Climate and the Ocean

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather vs Climate Weather The current Climate Temperature Pressure Humidity Precipitation at any given moment on earth Climate A region’s general pattern of weather or atmospheric conditions over a long period Average Temperature Average Precipitation

Warm and Cold Fronts The most dramatic changes in weather occur along a front (the boundary between two air masses). Warm Front: advancing mass of warm air -less dense -will rise over cool air

Warm and Cold Fronts Cold Front: advancing mass of cold air - more dense -stays close to ground and wedges underneath warm air -warm air pushed upwards, cool and rain forms

Highs and Lows High High pressure and density Contains cool, dense air Descends toward earth becomes warmer Low Low pressure and density Produces cloudy, stormy weather Warm air expands and cools

Extreme Weather Tornado Forms over land Forms when cool downdraft and warm updraft of air meet and interact U.S. is most tornado prone country followed by Canada Tropical Cyclone Form over warm water oceans partially due to the Coriolis Effect “Hurricane” in Atlantic and Eastern Pacific “Typhoon” in Western Pacific “Cyclone” in the Indian ocean

Tornado

Hurricane

Factors Affecting Regional Climates

1. Distribution of Solar Radiation Sun’s rays are more concentrated at the equator (90°), therefore air is heated more Sun’s rays are more spread out at the poles

2. Seasonal Changes The tilt of the earth’s axis means that various regions are tilted toward or away from the sun. This creates opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. Note: the earth does NOT change its tilt EVER! The earth rotates around the sun

3. Ocean Currents moderate climates Redistribute heat received by the sun

4. The Greenhouse Effect The heating of the earth’s surface due to the atmosphere containing gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation Greenhouse gases trap heat within the surface-troposphere system The main greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.

5. El Niño and La Niña What is it? Climate Shift that you will research Research Project (worth ½ test grade) Your group will be assigned El Nino or La Nina. You will: Create a poster describing the phenomenon assigned using the following directions to guide you. Present your phenomenon to another group.

El Niño and La Niña Project You will be graded on: neatness and creativity of poster (10 points) diagram or drawing (10 pts) correct information (70 pts) presentation (10 pts) Do NOT just read your poster to the other group, actually present the material (your poster should help you present, not be your presentation). The group you present to will assess your presentation on a scale of 1-5 with an explanation as to why.

Your poster should include the following: 1) What does ENSO stand for in terms of El Nino/La Nina? Where does it occur? What happens to ocean water temperatures (how do they change)? How often does El Nino/ La Nina occur? (10 pts) 2) Explain what causes or creates El Nino/ La Nina? Be sure to include these vocab words: prevailing winds, upwelling, and thermocline. (20 pts) 3) How does El Nino/La Nina specifically affect weather in Central Texas? (10 points) 4) How does it affect weather in the US? Discuss precipitation and temperatures. (5 pts) 5) Determine how it normally affects seasonal weather globally? Include a few different countries/continents (not the US). (5 pts) 6) How does it affect severe weather such as tropical cyclones: hurricanes and typhoons? (5 pts) 7) What are we currently in: La Nina or El Nino?(5 pts) 8) What effect does El Nino/ La Nina have on ocean life and fishing. (10 pts) 9) Diagram illustrating el nino/la nina. (10 pts)