CLIMATE 5.8A

Climate In winter, do you wear a thick coat and gloves? Or do you wear a t-shirt and shorts? What you wear in winter depends on where you live. Some places are very cold in winter while others are warm, or even hot. Different places on Earth have different climates.

Chihuahua Desert, Texas Climate on Earth Every place on Earth has a climate. Climate is the weather patterns in an area over a long period of time. Look at the pictures. What do you think the climate is like in each place? Hawaii Chihuahua Desert, Texas Alaska

Is it climate or is it weather? If you want to go outside and play, you will probably think about the weather. Is it warm or cold? Is it cloudy or sunny? Is it raining or snowing? Weather is the condition of the atmosphere outside at any given time. The weather is constantly changing.

Weather Weather includes: The temperature of the air The speed of the wind The amount of moisture in the air (humidity) Precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

Tropical Rainforest Think of a tropical rainforest. The climate in a tropical rainforest is warm and wet all year long. Many different plants and animals live in this environment. Why do you think this is so?

Desert Now think about the climate in a desert. It is very dry and, sometimes, very hot. Not much precipitation falls in a desert.

Different Places—Different Climates A tropical forest in Brazil has a wet, warm climate. The Chihuahuan Desert in Texas has a hot, dry climate.

Climate Zones on Earth There are three basic climate zones on Earth. These climate zones are caused by the amount of sunlight they receive. The polar zones are cold and dark. Polar Zone Temperate Zone The tropical zone surrounds the equator and has a warm to hot climate with a lot of sunshine. Tropical Zone The temperate zones have a more moderate climate than the polar zones and the tropical zones. Temperate Zone Polar Zone

Oceans and Climates Oceans also affect climate. Water holds heat for a longer time than land. Long after the land has cooled, water stays warm. So places near the ocean can have warmer climates than places farther from the ocean.

High and Low Land The height of a place can also affect its climate. Sea level is used to measure the height of places on Earth. Places that are far above sea level are high in the air. These places often have colder climates. Low-lying land is closer to sea level. This land usually has a warmer climate.

Rain Shadows Mountains affect climate in other ways. Tall mountains can block clouds from moving through the sky. The clouds will drop the rain on one side of the mountain. Not as much rain falls on the other side of the mountain. The dry side is said to be in a rain shadow. The area in a rain shadow has a drier climate than the other side of the mountain.

Comparing Climate and Weather Climate does not change from day to day. Climate is an area’s weather pattern over a long period of time. Weather is different from climate. Weather can change from day to day. Weather includes: Temperature each day Wind each day Clouds each day Precipitation each day Humidity each day Climate includes: Usual temperatures during the year Usual winds during the year Usual clouds during the year Usual precipitation during the year Usual humidity during the year