1. Earth-Sun Relations

2. Climate vs. Weather
Weather: condition of atmosphere in 1 place during a limited time

3. Climate vs. weather
Climate: weather patterns of an area over a long period of time

4. The most important factor of climate is Earth’s position in relation to the sun

5. Axis: imaginary line runs from pole to pole, through center
Earth’s Tilt
Axis: imaginary line runs from pole to pole, through center
Tilted at 23 ½ º angle
Places receive diff. amounts of light at diff. times

6. Areas with direct sunlight warmer temps.
Earth’s Tilt
Areas with direct sunlight warmer temps.
Areas with indirect sunlight cooler temps.

7. Earth rotates on its axis
Earth’s Rotation
Earth rotates on its axis
One complete rotation = 24 hours
From west to east, one hemisphere at a time

8. As it rotates, Earth revolves around the sun (365 days)
Earth’s Revolution
As it rotates, Earth revolves around the sun (365 days)
Tilt + revolution = seasons
Δs in length of days and temp.
Reversed for N & S hemispheres

10. Equinox: Spring and Fall Solstice: Summer and Winter
Equinoxes & Solstices
Equinox: Spring and Fall
Equal days and nights
Solstice: Summer and Winter
Longer day or shorter day

11. Spring equinox March 21- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night
Equinoxes & Solstices
Spring equinox March 21- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night
Summer solstice June 21- rays hit Tropic of Cancer
(23 ½ ºN)…longest day

12. Fall equinox Sept. 23- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night
Equinoxes & Solstices
Fall equinox Sept. 23- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night
Winter solstice December 22- rays hit Tropic of Capricorn
(23 ½ ºS)…shortest day

14. So if it is summer in Houston, what season is it in South Africa?
Equinoxes & Solstices
So if it is summer in Houston, what season is it in South Africa?
If we are wearing long sleeves and jackets, what are they wearing in China?

15. “lands of the midnight sun”
The Poles
For 6 months one pole is pointed toward sun  constant sunlight
Other is pointed away little to no sunlight
“lands of the midnight sun”

17. The perfect balance must be kept:
The Greenhouse Effect
The perfect balance must be kept:
Too much heat escapes freeze
Too much heat is trapped dry out

18. Greenhouse effect

19. More fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are burned 
Global warming
More fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are burned 
Greenhouse gases (CO2, O3, water vapor) trap more heat

20. Global warming
Water evaporation , get more rainfall
Land dries out more quickly

21. Factors Affecting Climate

22. Factors Affecting Climate
Divide your paper into 8 squares
Label them the following:
Low Latitudes 5. Wind Patterns
High Latitudes 6. Ocean Currents
Mid-Latitudes 7. El Niño
Elevation 8. Landforms
Use Ch. 3 Sec. 2
You will write at least 3 main points for each IN YOUR OWN WORDS!
You will draw an illustration to visually explain the factor (Must be colored)

23. Low Latitudes High Latitudes Mid-Latitudes Elevation Wind Patterns
Between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (includes Equator); the “Tropics”
Receive direct rays from Sun
Warm to hot climates year round
High Latitudes
Polar areas= North of Arctic Circle and south of Antarctic Circle
Receives constant indirect sunlight for 6 months when pole faces Sun
March-Sept: North has constant daylight, South is in dark (switches for next 6 mos.)
Mid-Latitudes
Most variable weather on Earth
Between Tropic of Cancer & Arctic Circle; between Tropic of Capricorn & Antarctic Circle
Ranges from fairly hot to fairly cold (temperate), dramatic changes
Summer gets warm air from tropics, winter gets cold air from high-latitudes
Elevation
At any latitude, anywhere on Earth, elevation influences climate
As altitude increases, the air thins which absorbs less heat
As elevation increases, temperature decreases
Wind Patterns
Move clockwise in N. Hem. and counterclockwise in S. Hem.
Cool air flows in to replaces rising warm air (Polar front), distributing Sun’s heat
Low latitudes have trade winds; mid-latitudes have westerlies; high latitudes have polar easterlies (named for direction they come from)
Doldrums are a windless band at the Equator and Tropic lines
Ocean Currents
Cold water moves from poles to Equator and warms up (warm currents), or warm water moves from Equator to poles and cools (cold currents)
Currents affect the climate on land: either cooling or warming (ex: North Atlantic Drift & W. Europe)
El Nino
Periodic change in currents & water temps. in mid-Pacific region, no known cause
Reversal of atmospheric pressures  reduce or reverse wind patterns brings warm water from Asia to South America
Domino effect: precipitation increases, flooding in S. America; also droughts and fires in SE Asia/Australia
Landforms
Landforms affect climates of places at the same latitude
Bodies of water moderate temps. b/c they take long to change temp.
Cool air releases moisture on windward side of mountain; then hot, dry air moves to leeward side creating deserts (rain shadow effect)

24. Low Latitudes Between the “Tropics” Receive direct rays from Sun
Low numbers in latitude value
Receive direct rays from Sun
Equator: 6 mos. a yr.
Each Tropic: 3 mos. a yr.
Receive indirect rays from Sun
Each Tropic: 6 mos. a yr.
Warm to hot climates year round

26. High Latitudes
Polar areas= N of Arctic Circle and S of Antarctic Circle (high numbers in latitude value)
Receives constant sunlight for 6 months when pole faces Sun
March-Sept: North has constant daylight, South is in dark (switches for next 6 mos.)
Arctic & Antarctic Circles are last point to receive indirect rays (during summer or winter)

28. Mid Latitudes Most variable weather on Earth
Between Trop. of Cancer & Arctic Circle; between Trop. of Capricorn & Antarctic Circle (~30°- 60°)
Ranges from fairly hot to fairly cold (temperate), dramatic changes, but no extremes
Summer gets warm air from low-lats, winter gets cold air from high-lats

30. Elevation
At any latitude, anywhere on Earth, elevation influences climate
If high enough in elevation, can have snow on the Equator! -Quito, Ecuador
As altitude increases, the air thins which absorbs less heat
As elevation increases, temperature decreases (3.5° per 1,000 ft)

31. *(named for direction they come FROM)
Wind Patterns
Move clockwise in N. Hem. and counterclockwise in S. Hem. (Coriolis Effect)
Cool air flows in to replace rising warm air (Polar front), distributing Sun’s heat
Switches direction in each latitude zone
Low latitudes have trade winds (northeasterly/southeasterly)
Mid-latitudes have westerlies
High latitudes have polar easterlies
*(named for direction they come FROM)
Windless bands
Equator
Horse Tropics

32. Coriolis Effect

33. Doldrums: windless area near the equator
Horse Latitudes: Historically, ships would lighten their loads in order to take advantage of the slightest wind such as cargo, excess supplies and livestock…this also included horses.

34. Ocean Currents Flow same directions as wind…which is??
Cold water moves from poles to Equator and warms up (cold currents), or warm water moves from Equator to poles and cools (warm currents)
Currents affect the climate on land: either cooling or warming (ex: North Atlantic Drift & W. Europe)

36. El Niño
Periodic change in currents & water temps. in mid-Pacific region
No known cause
Reversal of atmospheric pressures  reduce or reverse wind patterns brings warm water from Asia to South America
Domino effect:
Precipitation increases, flooding in S. America
Or droughts and fires in SE Asia/Australia

37. El Nino

38. Landforms Landforms affect climates of places @ the same latitude
Bodies of water moderate temps. b/c they take a long time to change temp.
Gulf of MX is warm water keeps Houston warmer
Continentality– absence of lg. body of water means more drastic weather changes
Nebraska can have hot summers and receive snow in the winters
Rainshadow effect
Cool air releases moisture on windward side of mountain; then hot, dry air moves to leeward side creating deserts

39. Ganges Plain in India
Himalaya
Arid Tibetan Plateau

40. Current Event Search
Find two articles, one from each “side” of the global climate change debate
Global Warming vs. Global Cooling
OR Human-caused Climate Change vs. Cyclical Climate Change
Staple/Tape RELIABLE articles into your spiral
Make t-chart of comparison points.
Write a ½-1 page reflection on YOUR opinion

41. Climographs

42. Climographs
World Climographs webpage