Climate Change

Agree or Disagree? 1. ____ Climate is the average weather pattern of an area. 2. ____ There are three latitude zones: tropical, temperate and polar.

What is CLIMATE Climate is a yearlong average of weather patterns over an area.

Factors That Affect Climate Latitude Elevation Topography Water bodies Global Winds Vegetation

Latitude As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases. Three zones Tropical Temperate Polar

Climate Zones by Latitude

The Zones Tropical Zone The region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS) WARM YEAR ROUND

The Zones Temperate Zone The region between 23.5º and 66.5º North or South of the equator. HOT summers COLD winters

The Zones Polar Zone The region from 66.5º north and south of the equator to the poles. Very cold temperature year round.

Factors That Affect Climate Elevation The higher the elevation is, the colder the climate. The elevation of an area also determines the amount of precipitation it receives.

Changing Climate Zones by USDA? Each zone is divided into smaller segments to advise people what climates will best grow different plants. Watch the newscast from 2007. What possible consequences could there be for agriculture if climate zones continue to change?

Factors that Affect Climate Topography Topography features such as mountains play an important role in the amount of precipitation that falls over an areas. Mountain can cause a rain shadow event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YPavdwYbeA

Factors That Affect Climate Bodies of Water Large bodies of water such as lakes and oceans have an important effect on the temperature of an area because the temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above.

Factors that Affect Climate Atmospheric Circulation Global winds distribute heat and moisture around Earth. Warm air moves to the poles and cold air moves to the equator

Factors that Affect Climate Vegetation Affect both temperature and the precipitation patterns in an area through transpiration. Transpiration is the movement of water through a plant and its release through the leaves

Water __________ the temperature. _______ summers. _______ winters. How does closeness to a large body of water affect climate? Water __________ the temperature. _______ summers. _______ winters. moderates Cooler Warmer Cities A & B are located at the same latitude. City B is closer to a large body of water. Its temperature line is flatter (moderated).

Changes in Atmospheric Circulation Video How to make a Climatograph http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8vAe4HcbAA

Climatographs

Climatographs

Climatographs

Climatographs

Climatographs

Worlds Climates Most commonly used system for classification of climates Köppen Climate Classification Systems Uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation to classify climates. Five principal groups Humid Tropical Dry Humid mid-latitude Polar Highland Climates 101

Coastal Area Climates The oceans heat up slowly but retain the heat for a longer period of time. Sea Breezes blow inland bringing rain and cools the land in the summer. In the winter, the coastal climates are warmer and generally wet and mild.

Name the three primary gases which absorb infrared (IR) energy Sun's Energy & Climate Name the three primary gases which absorb infrared (IR) energy methane water vapor

Why is the ozone layer important? Sun's Energy & Climate Why is the ozone layer important? It protects the Earth from UV which damages crops and causes cancer in humans.

Explain the greenhouse effect. Include a diagram which shows the change in wavelength. Apply It

Average global temperatures are increasing. Glaciers are melting. Global Warming Average global temperatures are increasing. Glaciers are melting. Ocean levels are rising. Warming is natural. Humans are speeding up the process through increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2)

Agree or Disagree? 5. ____ There are no processes that can change climate. 6. ____The Greenhouse effect is the natural warming of Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface. 7. ____ Global warming is the result of increased greenhouse gases, like CO2, being released by humans.