Location, Location, Location How Geography Affects Weather

Mountains Mountains have an effect on temperature and precipitation. As you go up in elevations, the temperature decreases. As the temperature drops, the pressure drops. Cold air causes water to condense, form clouds, and rain.

Mountains This creates what is known as a rain shadow. This is also why in NC, the Appalachian mountains absorb a lot of moisture from the west.

Oceans Oceans affect the weather too. Places closer to bodies of water have milder weather. Warm water cools much more slowly than land. Areas near oceans tend to get a lot of precipitation.

Oceans In winter, warmer ocean water keeps nearby land warmer. In summer, cooler ocean water helps keep the land cool. Temperatures along the coast of NC tend to be milder than those in other parts of the state.

Sea Breezes Near bodies of water there is always wind. During the days the land gets warmer faster than the water. The warm air rises. Rising air helps form clouds. Then as it rises it cools and moves over the cooler oceans water. As it cools down further it sinks. Sinking air spreads along the surface of the water. The ocean water cools down.

Land Breezes At night the opposite happens. The ocean is warmer compared to the land. Warm air rises from the ocean. Rising air helps form clouds. Cooler air sinks. Sinking air spreads along the surface of the ground. Land cools down.