Climates of the Earth Climates of the World

Earth-Sun Relationships

A) Climate vs. Weather Climate is the weather pattern in one place over a long period of time Weather is the current atmospheric conditions, including temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity at a given place

B) Earth’s Tilt & Rotation Tilt affects the temperature of places. Earth makes one rotation on its axis to cause day & night. Earth takes 365 ¼ days to revolve around the sun. B) Earth’s Tilt & Rotation

C) The Seasons Earth’s revolution & the tilt create seasons March 21st Sun’s rays fall directly on equator Equinox (equal night) Tropic of Capricorn – 23 ½o S December 22nd – Winter Solstice Shortest day of sunlight in northern hemisphere Tropic of Cancer – 23 ½o N June 21st – Summer Solstice Earth moves so sun falls on this latitude. Longest day of sunlight in northern hemisphere

Let's see this process in action! Add notes to your diagram as well as the space around it.

D) The Greenhouse Effect Earth’s atmosphere acts as a like in a greenhouse- it traps sun’s energy. Greenhouse Effect Atmosphere provides just the right amount of insulation to promote life. Sun’s radiation turns into heat. Global warming Some scientists believe there is a rise in CO 2 levels (carbon dioxide). More heat is trapped.

Why Global Warming? Human activities Burning of coal, oil, and natural gas releases CO2 Or is this phenomenon a natural occurrence?

E) Factors Affecting Climate

LEMPOS!!!

Factors Affecting Climate L :Latitude rays of sun & how it strikes the earth low latitudes get sun year-round (hot all year) Middle latitudes (tropics to poles) are temperate Great temperature shifts True seasonal changes High latitudes (Arctic & Antarctic Circles) – Cold all year

Factors Affecting Climate E: Elevation atmosphere gets thinner thinner air retains less heat…not as dense as altitude increases

Factors Affecting Climate M: Mountain Barriers Orographic effect (Rain shadow) Winds with moisture cool as they move up the mountain and dry out – windward side Weather patterns weaken or are even stopped as they move across the mountains – leeward side

Factors Affecting Climate P: Proximity (closeness) to water Water slower to heat than land, so land near water has consistent temperature Affected by landforms Tilt of the Earth on its access also play a part

Factors Affecting Climate O: Ocean currents Rivers flowing in the ocean - Cold and warm streams of water move through oceans (based on earth’s rotation, differences in water temperature, and change in air pressure). Warm waters flow away from the Equator toward the poles; cold water back toward the Equator Wind and ocean currents distribute the sun’s heat through CONVECTION (heat rises…) Global wind patterns work the same way Direct influence on precipitation Prevailing Westerlies  Trade Winds Doldrums  Trade Winds Prevailing Westerlies 

Factors Affecting Climate S: Storms El Nino (boy with the warm heart) Weather pattern Seasonal rains in the Americas Drought in Australia/Asia Every 2-7 years La Nina (girl with the cold heart) Reverse of El Nino Flooding around and toward India Drier on the coasts Certain geographical areas receive more storms than others Hurricane vs. typhoon Tornado Alley

F) Types of Climates: Low Latitude – Tropical Hot and muggy all year round. Rain forests – Average annual rainfall varies from about 70 to 100 inches; Average 80o F for high temperatures Deciduous forests

F) Types of Climates: Low to Mid-Latitudes Little precipitation. Savanna: broad grassland in the tropics with few trees. Steppe climate usually borders desert climates. Desert rainfall is 10 inches (Steppe b/t 10 and 20 inches) Covers 24% of land

F) Types of Climates: Mid-latitude- Mediterranean Warm to hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. On the west side of continents (marine west coast) Between 30 degrees and 45 degrees latitude. Southern California and near Mediterranean Sea

F) Types of Climates: Highland In mountainous regions. Humid continental Varies with elevation. Evergreen & Deciduous trees grow at base of mountains.

F) Types of Climates: High-Latitude to Subarctic Short, cool summers and long, bitterly cold winters. Permafrost: permanently frozen lower layers of soil in the tundra and subarctic regions Needle-leaved evergreen trees (coniferous forests) Most precipitation falls in the summer.

F) Types of Climates: High Latitudes to Icecap Coldest on earth. Summer temperatures rarely rise above the freezing point. Supports no vegetation. Precipitation is meager and is almost always in the form of snow.