1. Climate Change

2. Agree or Disagree?
1. ____ Climate is the average weather pattern of an area.
2. ____ There are three latitude zones: tropical, temperate and polar.

3. What is CLIMATE
Climate is a yearlong average of weather patterns over an area.

4. Factors That Affect Climate
Latitude
Elevation
Topography
Water bodies
Global Winds
Vegetation

5. Latitude
As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases.
Three zones
Tropical
Temperate
Polar

6. Climate Zones by Latitude

7. The Zones Tropical Zone
The region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS)
WARM YEAR ROUND

8. The Zones Temperate Zone
The region between 23.5º and 66.5º North or South of the equator.
HOT summers
COLD winters

9. The Zones
Polar Zone
The region from 66.5º north and south of the equator to the poles.
Very cold temperature year round.

10. Factors That Affect Climate
Elevation
The higher the elevation is, the colder the climate.
The elevation of an area also determines the amount of precipitation it receives.

11. Changing Climate Zones by USDA?
Each zone is divided into smaller segments to advise people what climates will best grow different plants.
Watch the newscast from What possible consequences could there be for agriculture if climate zones continue to change?

12. Factors that Affect Climate
Topography
Topography features such as mountains play an important role in the amount of precipitation that falls over an areas.
Mountain can cause a rain shadow event

13. Factors That Affect Climate
Bodies of Water
Large bodies of water such as lakes and oceans have an important effect on the temperature of an area because the temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above.

14. Factors that Affect Climate
Atmospheric Circulation
Global winds distribute heat and moisture around Earth.
Warm air moves to the poles and cold air moves to the equator

15. Factors that Affect Climate
Vegetation
Affect both temperature and the precipitation patterns in an area through transpiration.
Transpiration is the movement of water through a plant and its release through the leaves

16. Water __________ the temperature. _______ summers. _______ winters.
How does closeness to a large
body of water affect climate?
Water __________ the temperature.
_______ summers. _______ winters.
moderates
Cooler
Warmer
Cities A & B are located
at the same latitude.
City B is closer to a large body of water.
Its temperature line is flatter (moderated).

17. Changes in Atmospheric Circulation Video
How to make a Climatograph

18. Climatographs

19. Climatographs

20. Climatographs

21. Climatographs

22. Climatographs

23. Worlds Climates
Most commonly used system for classification of climates
Köppen Climate Classification Systems
Uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation to classify climates.
Five principal groups
Humid Tropical
Dry
Humid mid-latitude
Polar
Highland
Climates 101

24. Coastal Area Climates
The oceans heat up slowly but retain the heat for a longer period of time.
Sea Breezes blow inland bringing rain and cools the land in the summer.
In the winter, the coastal climates are warmer and generally wet and mild.

25. Name the three primary gases which absorb infrared (IR) energy
Sun's Energy & Climate
Name the three primary gases
which absorb infrared (IR) energy
methane
water vapor

26. Why is the ozone layer important?
Sun's Energy & Climate
Why is the ozone
layer important?
It protects the Earth from UV which damages crops and
causes cancer in humans.

27. Explain the greenhouse effect. Include a diagram which shows the
change in wavelength.
Apply It

28. Average global temperatures are increasing. Glaciers are melting.
Global Warming
Average global temperatures
are increasing.
Glaciers are melting.
Ocean levels are rising.
Warming is natural.
Humans are speeding up the process
through increased levels of
carbon dioxide (CO2)

29. Agree or Disagree?
5. ____ There are no processes that can change climate.
6. ____The Greenhouse effect is the natural warming of Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface.
7. ____ Global warming is the result of increased greenhouse gases, like CO2, being released by humans.