1. Climate

2. Factors that Affect Climate Climate □Average weather conditions over a long period of time □Defined by Many Factors □Temperature □Precipitation □Latitude □Heat Absorption □Topography

3. Temperature and Precipitation □Two Ways to Measure Temperature □Average Monthly Temperature □Yearly Temperature Range □Two Ways to Measure Temperature □Average Monthly Precipitation □Yearly Precipitation Range

4. Example – Mid Latitude

5. Example - Tundra

6. Latitude □Different Latitudes Receive Different Amounts of Solar Energy □Determines Temperature and Wind Patterns

7. Latitude – Solar Energy Solar Energy □Higher Latitudes Receive Smaller Amounts of Solar Energy □Lower Latitudes Receive Larger Amounts of Solar Radiation

8. Latitude – Global Wind Patterns Global Wind Patterns □Results from the uneven heating of the Earth □Warm Air Creates Low Pressure (Equator) □Cold Air Creates High Pressure (Poles) □Results in Wind

9. Heat Absorption and Release □Different areas differ in how they absorb and release heat □Water Absorbs and Releases Heat at a Slow Rate □Hence the reason for our late spring □Land Absorbs and Releases Heat at a Faster Rate □Influences the amount of heat available to heat the land

10. Heat Absorption and Release Controlled by the Following □Specific Heat of Water and Land □Evaporation Rates □Ocean Currents □El Nino – Southern Oscillation □Seasonal Winds

12. Heat Absorption - Specific Heat and Evaporation □Water has a high Specific Heat □The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of water one degree Celsius □Evaporation □Temperature Changes of Land and Sea vary because of Evaporation □Evaporation affects Water more than it does Land

13. Heat Absorption - Ocean Currents □If wind from the water is blown towards shore it will greatly influence the weather on the land □EX. Northwest Europe and Gulf Stream □El Nino – Southern Oscillation □El Nino – Warm Water Phase □La Nina – Cool Water Phase □Has Global Impact on Weather □3 – 10 Year Cycle

14. Ocean Currents – Ocean Conveyor Belt

15. El Nino – Southern Oscillation

16. 1997-1999

17. Heat Absorption - Monsoons □Caused by the Differentiated Heating of Land and Water □Summer □Land warms faster than water □Warm air rises over land and is replaced by cool ocean air □Rain □Winter □Land cools faster than water □Cool air over land is flows away from land □Drought

18. It Just Started Raining and Raining…

19. It Stopped.

20. Topography □Recall topography is the surface features of the land □Such features like mountains can control climate □Two Factors □Elevation □Rain Shadows

21. Topography - Elevation □As one rises in elevation, the average temperature decreases □Even at the equator the peaks of mountains can be capped with snow

22. Topography – Elevation vs. Latitude

23. Topography – Mountains □Mountains cause air masses to rise □As air masses rise the cool and loose their moisture □Results in lush vegetation on windward side of the mountain, and desert on leeward side of the mountain □Examples □Alps □Himalayans □Sierra Nevada

24. Topography – Rain Shadow

26. Topography – Tibetan Plateau

27. Types of Climates □Three Distinct Climate Regions □Tropical □Mid - latitude □Polar

28. Factors that Affect Biomes

32. Climates of the World

33. Global Climate Change Potential Causes of Global Change □Plate Tectonics □Disrupt Ocean Currents □Disrupt Wind Patterns □Orbital Changes □Milankovitch Theory □3 Motions on a 20,000 – 100,000 Year Cycles □Human Activity □Carbon Dioxide □Volcanic Activity

34. Milankovitch Theory

35. Proof is in the Data?

37. Potential Impacts Potential Impacts of Climate Change □Global Warming □Sea – Level Changes