1. Climate Factors Affecting Climate

2. Latitude and Climate Latitude is the most important factor affecting climate patterns because of its influence upon temperature patterns. Lower latitudes = higher temps. Equator = humid Subpolar highs (30oN,S) = arid

3. Elevation and Climate elevation increases As elevation increases: temperature decreasestemperature decreases vapor pressure decreasesvapor pressure decreases –relative humidity increases

4. Large Bodies of Water and Climate Water takes longer to heat up and cool down than land. Shoreline areas have a smaller range of annual temperatures. Marine climates Marine climates are locations where temperatures are modified by large bodies of water.

5. Ocean Currents and Climate

6. Mountain Barriers and Climate rain shadowAir on the leeward side of a mountain is warmer and drier therefore little rain this is called a rain shadow. orographic effectThe overall effect of mountains on climate is called the orographic effect.

8. Wind Belts and Climate Low pressure belts0 o 60 o NSLow pressure belts at 0 o and 60 o N and S cause rising, converging wind patterns. High pressure belts30 o N S,the polesHigh pressure belts at 30 o N and S, and at the poles, cause sinking and diverging wind patterns.

11. Storm Tracks

12. Seasonal Wind Patterns more pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere Seasonal changes in wind patterns are more pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere because of the large amounts of land. Southern Hemisphere little seasonal change in wind. The Southern Hemisphere has relatively little land to change large scale wind patterns, so there is little seasonal change in wind.

13. Monsoons Monsoons are large scale seasonal changes in winds due to differences in heating and cooling of land and water. (similar to l ll land and s ss sea breezes)

15. El Nino and La Nina Ocean currents, winds and weather patterns are closely linked. Sometimes patterns are reversed affecting weather world-wide. El Ninoocean warmingalong the PacificCoast El Nino refers to periods of ocean warming along the Pacific Coast of South America. La Nina unusually cold ocean temperatures La Nina refers to conditions of unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.

16. El Nino