Climate Describe the climate of Houston How does our climate differ from Dallas? El Paso? The Panhandle? Why do you think our climate is different?

Climate vs. Weather Weather – condition of the atmosphere at a given place and time What is occurring outside now Climate – condition of weather in a geographic region over a long period of time Trends of weather over time

5 Factors that Affect Climate 1.Latitude 2. Elevation 3. Wind 4. Ocean Currents 5. Landforms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7DLLxrrBV8&list=PLEDBEF577E57EE176 &index=2

1. Latitude (draw in notes) High Latitude Polars 60 N Dramatic Seasons Middle Latitude Temperate 30 N Low Latitude Tropics Low Latitude 30 S Middle Latitude Temperate 60 S Cold Year Round High Latitude Polars 90 S

Low Latitude Located between 0-30 degrees North/South Receives sunlight all year Very hot temperatures Lush vegetation Abundant Precipitation

Middle Latitude Located between 30-60 degrees North/South Summers Hot, Dry Winters Cold, Rainy Dramatic Seasons

High Latitude Located between 60-90 degrees North/South Poles located here Cold Temperatures year round

2. Elevation As air rises it cools and dries Basically As you go up from the ground, the air gets colder and drier.

3. Global Wind Belts What is wind? The horizontal flow of air

Global Wind Belt Diagram (draw in notes) warm air meets cold air Polar’s 60 N Prevailing winds, which blow from the west Westerlies 30 N Northeast Tradewinds Windless areas around the equator Doldrums Southeast Tradewinds 30 S Prevailing winds, blow from the east Easterlies 60 S Polar’s Prevailing Winds- winds which blow from the same direction 90 S

Types of Wind Con’d Coriolis Effect- causes prevailing winds to blow at a diagonal Right in the northern hemisphere Left in the southern hemisphere Front- two air masses of widely different temperatures and moisture levels meet Jet Stream- Fastest westerly wind which moves heat and steer weather. https://m.youtube.co m/watch?v=i2mec3v geaI

4. Ocean Currents Current- A great river of seawater which moves in a circular flow Upwelling - cold water from the ocean floor rises to the surface Water heats/cools more slowly on land

5. Landforms As warm, moist air flows from the water and rises up the mountain it begins to cool. The cool air then evaporates which causes precipitation. The precipitation allows the windward side of the mountain to have lush vegetation. As the air pushes over the mountain it dries and heats up. This causes the leeward side of the mountain to be hot, dry.

Rain shadow Effect/ Orographic Uplift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJjhFZ-basw Draw in notes!!! Look at board Rain shadow Effect/ Orographic Uplift

5 Factors that Affect Climate Notes Latitude (leave space for diagram) Low Latitude – located between 0-30 degrees North/South Middle Latitude – located between 30-60 degrees North/South – dramatic seasons High Latitude – located between 60-90 degrees North/South – cold year round Elevation As air rises it cools and dries Wind (leave space for diagram) The horizontal flow of air

Notes Continued 4. Ocean Currents Water heats/cools more slowly on land 5. Landforms Warm, Moist air causes lush vegetation on windward slope. Air pushes over mountain and falls which cause desert conditions on leeward slope of mountain.

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