Climate, California Standard: 5a, e; 6a, b, c;7b, d.

Climate Climate is determined by taking the average weather conditions over 30 years. Weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, etc. are averaged and presented as the climate for that area.

Factors that Affect Climate Latitude: Polar zones, tropical zones, temperate zones. Topographic features: mountains, large bodies of water, and cities.

Latitude How far N or S of the equator determines how much solar radiation is received. The further away from the equator the less solar radiation and thus a cooler climate. The closer to the equator the more solar radiation and thus a warmer climate.

Latitude and Temperature Polar latitudes, no. 1 Middle latitudes, no. 2 Equatorial, no. 3

Solar Radiation and Latitude

Thus… The lower the angle that the sun hits an object the less solar radiation and less energy to heat that object. The higher the angle or more direct that solar radiation hits and object the more energy to heat that object.

Topographic Features Large bodies of water, such as the oceans or Great Lakes or Mountains such as the Sierra Nevada's or Rocky Mountains or Large cities such as L.A. or Beijing, China.

Rain Shadow Effect Windward side of the mountain receives a lot of rain while… the leeward side receives no rain or moisture and thus a desert is created.

Mountains or Orographic effect

Rain Shadow Effect Mojave Desert

Rain Shadow Effect Visalia

Large Bodies of Water Lakes, such as Lake Superior or the ocean can affect temperature ranges. Temperatures in San Francisco versus Visalia are much milder due to the presence of the Pacific Ocean.

Climate and Large Bodies of Water St. Louis, Missouri San Francisco, CA

Climate Change A scientists that studies the climate is called a climatologists. The climatologists uses many resources to study present and past climate. He can use ice cores, fossils, tree rings data and grape harvest to determine Earth’s past.

Climatic Changes Plate Tectonics, movement of continental plates throughout the ages. Orbital Changes, or the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sun. Human Activity by the use of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests. Volcanic Activity by reflecting sunlight back into space.

Plate Tectonics

Current Continental Distribution

Earth’s Orbit & Tilt Changes in Earth’s orbit around the sun can cause climatic changes. Changes in Earth’s tilt on it’s axis can cause climatic changes. Human activity, by burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal can cause climatic changes.

Earth’s Tilt & Wobble

Earth’s Orbit

Human Activity Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas add carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere. This traps heat in the atmosphere and add to Global Warming or the Greenhouse Effect.

Electrical production by the fossil fuel coal

El Nino Effect El Nino is a short term, climatic change that occurs in the Pacific Ocean every 3 to 10 years. The temperature of the ocean changes which changes the temperature of the land masses which surround the Pacific, such as the west coast of North America.

Climate Zones Tropical zones are characterized by high temperatures and high precipitation. Middle-latitude or temperate zones are characterized by a range in temperatures between the coldest and warmest months. Polar zones have freezing temperatures, below 0o C during much of the year.

Tropical Climates: Three types Rain-forest Tropical Desert Savanna

Middle-Latitude Climates: Five types Marine west coast Humid cont. & subtropical Mediterranean Steppe

Marine West Coast, Washington and Oregon

Steppe (grassland) Climate

Polar Climates: Three types Subartic Tundra Polar icecaps

Polar Climates: Tundra

Temperate Zone between 33 and 66 degrees N & S Polar Zone, between 66 and 90 degrees N & S Temperate Zone between 33 and 66 degrees N & S Tropical Zone between 0 and 33 degree N & S Temperate Zone Polar Zone

The End