1. Chapter 3: Climates of the Earth
Section 1: Earth-Sun Relationships

2. Seasons Earth is tilted at a 23.5° angle relative to the sun
Areas of Earth get more, less direct sun at different times of year
The seasons are related to the earth’s tilt and revolution

3. Solstice Marks beginning of summer and winter
Sun’s rays directly overhead at noon at furthest points north and south

4. Equinox Marks the beginning of spring and autumn
Day and night are equal in length

6. Weather and Climate
Weather—atmospheric conditions at a particular location and time
Climate—weather conditions at one location over a long period

7. What Causes the Weather?
Sun: amount of solar energy received
Water vapor: determines whether there will be precipitation (water droplets falling as rain, snow, sleet, or hail)
Cloud cover: clouds may hold water vapor

8. Precipitation
Warm air rises, cools, and loses ability to hold water vapor
Water vapor condenses into droplets
Water droplets form clouds
Heavy clouds release droplets as rain or snow

10. Rain Shadow
A rain shadow is the land on leeward side of hills or mountains
Very little precipitation in rain shadow

14. Hurricanes Huge storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters
Hit land with heavy rain, high winds, and storm surge
Called typhoons in Asia

16. Tornado A powerful, funnel-shaped column of spiraling air
Born from strong thunderstorms
Capable of immense damage

18. Blizzards
Heavy snowstorm with strong winds and reduced visibility

20. Droughts
Long period of time with either no or minimal rainfall

22. Floods
Water spreads out over normally dry land

24. Section 2: Factors Affecting Climate

25. Factors Affecting Climate
Wind currents
Zones of latitude (closer to the poles is colder and closer to the equator is hotter)
Elevation (the further above sea level the colder it is)
Topography

26. Changes in Climate
El Niño—winds push warm Pacific Ocean waters toward the Americas
La Niña—winds push warm waters toward Australia and Asia

27. Global Warming Gradual warming of the earth’s atmosphere
Greenhouse effect—the earth warms due to trapped solar energy

31. Section 3: World Climate Patterns

32. Climate Regions
Temperature and precipitation define climate regions.

33. Types of Climates Tropical Wet Always hot
Daily rainfall adds up to more than 80” annually

35. Tropical Wet and Dry
Warm, wet summer season
Cooler, dry winter season

37. Semiarid
Hot summers
Mild to cold winters
Little precipitation

39. Desert
Can be hot or cold
Less than 10” rain per year

41. Mediterranean
Summers dry and hot
Winters cool and rainy

43. Marine West Coast Moderate temperatures
Frequently cloudy, foggy and damp

45. Humid Subtropical Long periods of summer heat and humidity
Winters mild to cool

47. Humid Continental Great variety of temperature and precipitation
Four distinct seasons

49. Subarctic
Summers are short and cool
Winters are long and very cold

51. Tundra Flat, treeless ring of lands around the Arctic Ocean
Very little precipitation
Permafrost is the constantly frozen subsoil found in this region

53. Ice Cap
Snow and ice
Permanently freezing temperatures

55. Highlands
Climate varies with latitude, elevation, topography, and location

57. Section 4: Soils and Vegetation

58. Soil Regions
Soil is a thin layer of weathered rock, humus, air, and water
Topsoil refers to the top 6” of soil
Soil characteristics vary with climate

59. Vegetation Regions
Ecosystem—interdependent community of plants and animals
Biome—the ecosystem of a region
Biomes are further divided into:
forest
grassland
desert
tundra