Climate Introduction to Weather: (def.) The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location at a specific time. Climate: (def.) The weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time.

Climate Temperature Precipitation Seasons What defines a location’s climate? Temperature Precipitation Seasons

Factors affecting climate? Influence of latitude. Influence of winds. Influence of elevation. Proximity to water (oceans).

TROPICAL TEMPERATE TEMPERATE 60 - 90 30 - 60 0 - 30 0 - 30 30 - 60 ARCTIC/SUBARCTIC 30 - 60 TEMPERATE 0 - 30 TROPICAL 0 - 30 TEMPERATE 30 - 60 ARCTIC/SUBARCTIC 60 - 90

LOW LATITUDES MID LATITUDES MID LATITUDES 60 - 90 30 - 60 0 - 30 HIGH LATITUDES 30 - 60 MID LATITUDES 0 - 30 LOW LATITUDES 0 - 30 MID LATITUDES 30 - 60 HIGH LATITUDES 60 - 90

Higher latitudes have cooler temperatures. THE EFFECT OF LATITUDE Higher latitudes have cooler temperatures.

Wind patterns

Wind patterns Rain "shadow" Winds carry moisture from the oceans over the land. Areas near the ocean get more precipitation than areas far from the sea. Mountain ranges create “rain shadows” on the leeward side.

Wind patterns Rain "shadow"

Elevation Higher elevations have cooler climates at any latitude.

Proximity to water Seattle, Washington 46* N latitude Avg. yearly temperature = 52.8*F Duluth, Minnesota 46* N latitude Avg. yearly temperature = 38.5*F

Proximity to water Oceans moderate temperatures. Locations near the ocean have more moderate climates than locations in the center of a continent.

Climate regions Focus question: What characteristics define a place’s climate?

How climate affects living. Focus question: Describe four ways that climate affects living.

Climate regions

The climate regions TROPICAL WET TROPICAL WET & DRY SEMIARID DESERT (ARID) MEDITERRANEAN MARINE WEST COAST HUMID SUBTROPICAL HUMID CONTINENTAL SUBARCTIC TUNDRA ICECAP HIGHLANDS

Climate Regions Chart TROPICAL WET Little variation in temperature over the year. It is always hot with a lot of precipitation. Found South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Climate Regions Chart TROPICAL WET AND DRY Has a warm, rainy season in summer and cooler, dry season in winter. Found in South America and Africa.

Climate Regions Chart SEMIARID Little precipitation. Summers are hot. Winters are mild to cold. Found in the interiors of continents or around deserts.

Climate Regions Chart DESERT Receive very little precipitation. There are “hot” deserts (Sahara, Arabian) and “cold” deserts (Great Basin – Nevada, Utah).

Climate Regions Chart MEDITERRANEAN Summers are dry and hot, winters are cool and rainy. Found on the Mediterranean Coast, California, Australia. (Mid-latitude, sub-tropical, west coast)

Climate Regions Chart MARINE WEST COAST Often cloudy, foggy, damp. Ocean air moderates temperatures. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year. Found on the west coast of U.S. & Canada and Northwestern Europe.

Southeastern U.S. and China. Climate Regions Chart HUMID SUBTROPICAL Long periods of summer heat and humidity. Often subject to hurricanes/typhoons in summer and autumn. Southeastern U.S. and China.

Climate Regions Chart HUMID CONTINENTAL Variety in temperature and precipitation. Arctic and tropical air masses collide causing changing weather conditions. Four distinct seasons. Found in central, eastern U.S. and central Europe

Climate Regions Chart SUBARCTIC Huge temperature variations occur between summer and winter. Summers – short and cool. Winters – long and very cold. Found in Canada & Russia.

Climate Regions Chart Flat, treeless lands forming ring around Arctic Ocean. Very little precipitation. Subsoil is always frozen (permafrost). Summer is only a few weeks long with temperatures rarely above 40*F.. TUNDRA Found in Northern Canada & Russia.

Climate Regions Chart ICECAP Snow, ice, permanently freezing temperatures. Polar deserts with very little precipitation. Arctic icecap, Antarctica, Greenland.

Climate Regions Chart HIGHLAND Climate varies with latitude, elevation and proximity to water. Generally cooler than surrounding lowlands with precipitation on the windward slopes. Found in the Rocky Mountains, China (Tibetan Plateau), Andes Mountains.

Radio Advertisement Make it sound exciting! Select one of the twelve climate regions and create a radio advertisement that “sells” the climate to tourists. The ad should include: A description of the climate (temperature, precipitation, seasons) Where in the world the climate is found (latitudes, specific countries). Describe the type of vegetation you will find there. Activities that can be done in that climate that tourists would enjoy. Make it sound exciting!

Icecap You don’t normally think of this climate when you hear the word “desert,” but it is one.

The Amazon rainforest has this climate. Tropical Wet The Amazon rainforest has this climate.

Rare in the Northern Hemisphere, but common in Africa. Tropical Wet & Dry Rare in the Northern Hemisphere, but common in Africa.

Semiarid Not quite a desert.

Frequent rain. Moderate temperatures throughout the year. Marine West Coast Frequent rain. Moderate temperatures throughout the year.

Almost all of Alaska has this climate. Subarctic Almost all of Alaska has this climate.

Humid subtropical Warm and humid for about half of the year. Tropical storms are frequent.

Mediterranean Winters are wet but not cold. Found along the Southern California coast.

Only found in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s “our” climate. Humid Continental Only found in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s “our” climate.

Most common region around the equator. Tropical Wet Most common region around the equator.

Coldest climate in which vegetation grows. Tundra Coldest climate in which vegetation grows.