1. The Climate
Chapter 25

2. Climate
Climate: the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
Weather: is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time.

3. Factors that Affect Climate
Factors that Affect Climate: Temperature, Precipitation, Latitude (affects solar energy and global wind patterns)
Specific Heat: the quantity of heat required to raise a unit mass of material 1 C in a specified way give constant pressure and volume. Causing water to warm more slowly than land.

4. El Nino: the warm-water phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, a periodic occurrence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface-water temperature becomes unusually warm. It occurs every 3 to 10 years and causes large amounts of rain in the South Western US. There is also a cool-water phase called La Nina that affects weather patterns.
El Nino

6. Monsoons
Monsoon: a seasonal wind that blows toward the land in the summer, bringing heavy rains, and that blows away from the land in the winter, bring dry weather. These occur in Southern and Eastern Asia.

7. Topography
Topography: the surface features of the land can influence climate.
Mountains cause air to rise, cool, and lose moisture as the air passes over the mountains. As the air sinks, it compresses and warms on the other side of the mountain.

8. Climate Zones
There are 3 major types of climate zones: Tropical, Middle Latitude, and Polar.

9. Tropical Climates
Tropical Climate: a climate characterized by high temperatures and heavy precipitation during at least part of the year; typical of equatorial regions. (Rain Forest, Desert, Savanna)

10. Middle-Latitude Climates
Middle-Latitude Climate: a climate that has an average maximum temperature of 8C in the coldest month and an average minimum temperature of 10C in the warmest month.

11. Polar Climates
Polar Climate: a climate that is characterized by average temperatures that are near or below freezing; typical of polar regions. (Subarctic, Tundra, Polar Icecap Climates)

12. Local Climates
Microclimate: the climate of a small area.

13. Climate Change
Climatologist: a scientist who gathers data to study and compare past and present climates and to predict future climate change.

14. Climate Change Methods of Studying Past Climates: Ice Cores
Sea-Floor Sediment
Fossils
Tree Rings

15. Climate Change Potential Causes of Climate Change:
Movement of Tectonic Plates
Changes in Earth’s Orbit
Human Activity
Atmospheric Changes (Volcanoes)

16. Climate Change
Global Warming: a gradual increase in the average global temperature that is due to a higher concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Causing Sea Level Changes

17. Climate Change What Humans Can Do: Reduce CO2 pollution
Use public transportation / drive fuel-efficient cars
Use less electricity
Recycle