Climate

Day 1 Objective: I can describe climate and the factors affecting it

What is Climate? Yearlong average of weather patterns over an area

Factors that Affect Climate Latitude Elevation Topography Water Bodies Global Winds Vegetation

Factor #1: Latitude As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases Three Zones Tropical Temperate Polar

The Zones Zone 1: Tropical Zone Region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS) Warm Year Round

Zone 3: Polar Zone Zone 2: Temperate Zone Region between 23.5ºN/S and 66.5ºN/s of the equator Hot Summers Cold Winters Zone 3: Polar Zone Region from 66.5ºN/S of the equator to the poles Very cold temperature year round

Factor #2: Elevation Higher the elevation is, the colder the climate Elevation determines amount of precipitation it receive

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?

Factor #3: Topography Land features affect amount of precipitation that falls over an area Mountains cause a rain shadow event One side has cool, wet air One side has warm, dry air

Factor #4: Water Bodies Large bodies of water (lakes & oceans) have an important effect on the temperature of an area. Temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above.

Elevation and Topography Video

Factor #5: Global Winds Winds distribute heat and moisture around the Earth Warm air moves to the poles Cold air moves to the equator

Factor #6: Vegetation Affects both temperature and precipitation Influence how much of the sun’s energy is absorbed and how quickly it is released Precipitation When plants release water vapor from its leaves into the air (transpiration)

Day 2 Objective: I can describe how climates are classified using the Köppen System.

Köppen Climate Classification System Most commonly used system Uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation Five Principal Groups Humid Tropical Humid Mid-Latitude Dry Highland Polar

Humid Tropical Climate No Winters Monthly average temperature above 18ºC (64.4ºF) Precipitation can exceed 200-cm Two Types Wet Tropical Tropical Wet and Dry

Tropical Wet & Dry Wet Tropical High Temperature High Temperature High annual precipitation Experiences distinct periods of low precipitation Wet Tropical High Temperature High annual precipitation

Humid Mid-Latitude Climate with Mild Winters Mild winters with an average temperature in the coldest month that is below 18ºC (64.4ºF) but above -3ºC (26.6ºF) Three Types Humid Subtropical Marine West Coast Dry Summer Subtropical

Dry-Summer Subtropical Marine West Coast Humid Subtropical Between 25º and 40º latitude on the eastern side of the continent Summer = hot, sultry Winter = wild NC climate Dry-Summer Subtropical Between 30º & 45º latitude Strong winter rainfall Only found in California Marine West Coast Between 40º and 65º N/S on the coastal area Summer = cool Winter = mild Northern California to Southern Alaska

Humid Mid-Latitude with Severe Winters Severe winters have an average temperature in the coldest month that is below -3ºC (26.6ºF) Two Types Humid Continental Subarctic

Humid Continental Subarctic Not in the Southern Hemisphere Between 40º and 50º N latitude Winters = Severe Summer = warm and great precipitation Subarctic Winters are long and bitterly cold Summers are warm and very short The highest annual temperature range on Earth

Dry Climate Yearly precipitation is not as great as the potential loss of water by evaporation Two Types Arid or Desert Semi-arid or Steppe Transition zone that surrounds the desert and separates it from humid climates

Cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations Highland Climate Cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations

Polar Climate Average temperature of the warmest month is below 10ºC (50ºF) Little precipitation falls Winters = extremely cold Summer = cool Two Types Tundra Ice Caps

Tundra Treeless region found almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere Plant life of mosses, shrubs and flowering herbs Ice Caps Monthly average temperature below 0ºC (32ºF) Covered with permanent ice and snow

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.

Day 3 Objective: I can explain the causes of changes in climate locally and world wide

Natural Process that Change Climate Volcanic Eruption Ocean Circulation Solar Activity Earth’s Motions

Volcanic Eruption The presence of volcanic ash, dust and aerosols in the air increase the amount of solar radiation that is reflected back into space. Causes Earth’s lower atmosphere to cool

Ocean Circulation EL NINO Causes parts of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to become warmer than usual Arid places receive large amounts of rain Places that receive lots of rain may experience dry periods HERE? We have wet summers

LA NINA Surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific are colder than average Hurricanes damage greater in La Nina times HERE? We have dry summers

Solar Activity Formation of sunspots appear to correspond with warm periods in Europe and North America 11 year cycle

Earth’s Motion Orbit and Tilt Earth’s tilt causes the seasons Change in the degree of tilt or shape of orbit could cause global climate changes

Natural Processes that Change Climate CO2 Fluctuations Changes in plant growth rates CO2 levels fall during the growing season and rise in the winter

Natural Processes that Change Climate Ocean Acidification Decrease in the ocean’s pH levels in the ocean. CO2 is absorbed by the ocean and forms carbonic acid. Coral Reefs: High levels of CO2 negatively affects corals making their shells. 50% of coral reefs have been destroyed

Human Impact on Climate Change The Greenhouse Effect Is a natural warming of both Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface Makes life as we know it possible Major Gases: Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide Humans have added more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere in the pass 200 years by burning fossil fuels

Global Warming As a result of increases in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as well as other greenhouse gases, global temperatures have increased Affects weather and climates

Temperatures Rising due to Global Warming Effects Glaciers melting Greenland—If all of the ice melts, oceans will rise 23 feet Antarctic—major reduction in ice coverage Permafrost in Tundra is releasing CO2 that is stored under the ice

Hottest Years Since 1980, the Earth has had 19 of its 20 hottest years on record 2010 2005 2009 2007 2006 1998 2002 2003 2001 1997

Antarctica Melting If all of the ice in the glaciers of Antarctica melts, the oceans will rise