Global Patterns 5.3 Pages 164-169

How do global patterns affect local weather?

Patterns that affect temperature Temperature is affected by latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, and ocean currents Latitude – distance from equator measured in degrees

Based on Latitude, Earth’s surface can be divided into 3 temperature zones. Pg.165 Polar zone Temperate zone Tropical zone Temperate zone Polar zone

Tropical Zone An area near the equator, between 23.50 north and 23.50 south latitude. *gets direct sunlight all year *this area is warm

Temperate Zone Between polar and tropical zone. Sun strikes more directly in the summer causing it to be more warm/hot Sun strikes at lower angle in winter causing it to be cool/cold.

Polar Zone 66.5 ⁰ to 90 ⁰ N and 66.5 ⁰ to 90 ⁰ S latitude The sun’s rays strike at a lower angle near North and South Poles making these areas cold

Altitude In the troposphere, temperature decreases about 6.5 ⁰C for every 1 kilometer increase in altitude.

Distance from large bodies of water Because water takes longer to heat up and cool down, land areas near water tend to be cooler in the summer and milder in the winter.

Ocean Currents Streams of water within the ocean that move in regular patterns. Ex. Gulf Stream The temperature of the current affects the temperature of the air.

Patterns that affect precipitation The main factors that affect precipitation are prevailing winds, the presence of mountains, jet streams, and seasonal winds.

Prevailing winds Winds that usually blow in one direction in a region. In the U.S., winds blow from the west.

Wind and Precipitation Mountains can form a barrier to humid air Wind and Precipitation Mountains can form a barrier to humid air. What happens to the humid air when it encounters the mountains? pg. 168 Windward Leeward Green Brown Green Label: windward, leeward Shade: green (plants), brown (no plants) Windward- the side of the mountain range that faces The oncoming wind. Leeward – the side of the mountain range that faces away from the oncoming wind.

Jet Streams Narrow bands of high-speed Which arrow shows the polar jet stream on the diagram? Which arrow shows the subtropical jet stream? Pg. 169 Polar jet stream Jet Streams Narrow bands of high-speed winds about 10-15 km above Earth’s surface. Subtropical jet stream

Seasonal Winds Monsoon –sea and land breezes over a large region that change direction with the seasons.

Global Wind Patterns