1. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors:
Latitude
Distance from the equator
Angle of suns rays
Why do we have seasons?

2. Latitude Latitude is at work here; what other factors? Patterns?
Temperature Animation

3. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors:
Latitude
Altitude
Temperatures fall by 6 °C with every 1000 m gained in elevation

4. Altitude Often said that: ``altitude mimics latitude’’
What does that mean?
Swiss Alps

5. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors
Latitude
Altitude
Oceanic
Circulation
currents

6. Ocean circulation Global conveyor
Including surface currents such as Gulf stream that influence climate

7. El niño
View animations

8. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors
Latitude
Altitude
Oceanic Circulation
Other important factors
Atmospheric Circulation
Winds
Cold air sinks
Compresses and warms
Warm air rises
Expands and cools

9. Atmospheric circulation
Arrows show direction of winds near ground
Winds are angled because of Earth’s rotation (coriolis effect)
Air at 60 deg N and S rises, most going toward the poles, where it gets cold and sinks. So, poles are cold and dry.

10. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors
Latitude
Altitude
Oceanic Circulation
Other important factors
Atmospheric Circulation
Solar activity
Radiation Animation
Solar maximum
11 year cycle

11. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors
Latitude
Altitude
Oceanic Circulation
Other important factors
Atmospheric Circulation
Solar activity
Volcanic activity
Lots of ash and CO2
O2 and water create atmospheric haze

12. volcanoes
sulfur dioxide can remain in atmosphere for 3 years, forming haze that reflects sunlight, cooling the planet
Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 had that affect

13. 1815: Mt. Tambora erupts
1816: Year without a summer

14. Factors that Influence Climate
3 main factors
Latitude
Altitude
Oceanic Circulation
Other important factors
Atmospheric Circulation
Solar activity
Volcanic activity
Topography
Shape of the land
Rain shadow

15. How does the Earth gain heat?
The Sun

16. What accounts for the Earth’s temperature?
Energy balance
Electromagnetic energy (light, UV, IR) from the Sun enters the Earth’s atmosphere
Electromagnetic energy is radiated back to space

17. 3 ways for transfer of heat energy
Radiation: electromagnetic waves (such as light from the sun) travel through space
Convection: warm gases or liquids rise, cool, and fall
Conduction: warm body transfers heat directly to a colder body

18. Earth’s Greenhouse Effect

19. The greenhouse effect
One of the main reasons Earth has a livable climate
Not in doubt
Greenhouse gases: ``Trap’’ heat that is radiated from the earth’s surface and re-radiate it.
Water vapor – main greenhouse gas
Carbon dioxide
Methane times CO2’s heat-trapping ability
Nitrous oxide – 216 times CO2’s heat-trapping ability

20. Why the interest in CO2? Increasing rapidly in the atmosphere
Plays a big role high in the atmosphere, where it is quite dry—i.e., little water vapor.

21. Greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide: released when biomass (wood) or fossil fuels are burned
Methane: released when organic waste decomposes in landfills; by livestock; during processing of fossil fuels
Water vapor: evaporation from ocean.

22. The Carbon Cycle

23. Some of the Sun’s energy is reflected back to space
Albedo = how much light an object or surface reflects
Light ice reflects
Dark land absorbs