1. Climate

2. Day 1
Objective:
I can describe climate and the factors affecting it

3. What is Climate?
Yearlong average of weather patterns over an area

4. Factors that Affect Climate
Latitude
Elevation
Topography
Water Bodies
Global Winds
Vegetation

5. Factor #1: Latitude
As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases
Three Zones
Tropical
Temperate
Polar

6. The Zones Zone 1: Tropical Zone
Region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS)
Warm Year Round

7. Zone 3: Polar Zone Zone 2: Temperate Zone
Region between 23.5ºN/S and 66.5ºN/s of the equator
Hot Summers
Cold Winters
Zone 3: Polar Zone
Region from 66.5ºN/S of the equator to the poles
Very cold temperature year round

8. Factor #2: Elevation Higher the elevation is, the colder the climate
Elevation determines amount of precipitation it receive

9. 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?

10. Factor #3: Topography
Land features affect amount of precipitation that falls over an area
Mountains cause a rain shadow event
One side has cool, wet air
One side has warm, dry air

11. Factor #4: Water Bodies
Large bodies of water (lakes & oceans) have an important effect on the temperature of an area.
Temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above.

12. Elevation and Topography Video

13. Factor #5: Global Winds
Winds distribute heat and moisture around the Earth
Warm air moves to the poles
Cold air moves to the equator

14. Factor #6: Vegetation Affects both temperature and precipitation
Influence how much of the sun’s energy is absorbed and how quickly it is released
Precipitation
When plants release water vapor from its leaves into the air (transpiration)

15. Day 2
Objective:
I can describe how climates are classified using the Köppen System.

16. Köppen Climate Classification System
Most commonly used system
Uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation
Five Principal Groups
Humid Tropical
Humid Mid-Latitude
Dry
Highland
Polar

17. Humid Tropical Climate
No Winters
Monthly average temperature above 18ºC (64.4ºF)
Precipitation can exceed 200-cm
Two Types
Wet Tropical
Tropical Wet and Dry

18. Tropical Wet & Dry Wet Tropical High Temperature High Temperature
High annual precipitation
Experiences distinct periods of low precipitation
Wet Tropical
High Temperature
High annual precipitation

19. Humid Mid-Latitude Climate with Mild Winters
Mild winters with an average temperature in the coldest month that is below 18ºC (64.4ºF) but above -3ºC (26.6ºF)
Three Types
Humid Subtropical
Marine West Coast
Dry Summer Subtropical

20. Dry-Summer Subtropical Marine West Coast
Humid Subtropical
Between 25º and 40º latitude on the eastern side of the continent
Summer = hot, sultry
Winter = wild
NC climate
Dry-Summer Subtropical
Between 30º & 45º latitude
Strong winter rainfall
Only found in California
Marine West Coast
Between 40º and 65º N/S on the coastal area
Summer = cool
Winter = mild
Northern California to Southern Alaska

21. Humid Mid-Latitude with Severe Winters
Severe winters have an average temperature in the coldest month that is below -3ºC (26.6ºF)
Two Types
Humid Continental
Subarctic

22. Humid Continental Subarctic Not in the Southern Hemisphere
Between 40º and 50º N latitude
Winters = Severe
Summer = warm and great precipitation
Subarctic
Winters are long and bitterly cold
Summers are warm and very short
The highest annual temperature range on Earth

23. Dry Climate
Yearly precipitation is not as great as the potential loss of water by evaporation
Two Types
Arid or Desert
Semi-arid or Steppe
Transition zone that surrounds the desert and separates it from humid climates

24. Cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations
Highland Climate
Cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations

25. Polar Climate
Average temperature of the warmest month is below 10ºC (50ºF)
Little precipitation falls
Winters = extremely cold
Summer = cool
Two Types
Tundra
Ice Caps

26. Tundra
Treeless region found almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere
Plant life of mosses, shrubs and flowering herbs
Ice Caps
Monthly average temperature below 0ºC (32ºF)
Covered with permanent ice and snow

27. 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.

28. Day 3
Objective:
I can explain the causes of changes in climate locally and world wide

29. Natural Process that Change Climate
Volcanic Eruption
Ocean Circulation
Solar Activity
Earth’s Motions

30. Volcanic Eruption
The presence of volcanic ash, dust and aerosols in the air increase the amount of solar radiation that is reflected back into space.
Causes Earth’s lower atmosphere to cool

31. Ocean Circulation EL NINO
Causes parts of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to become warmer than usual
Arid places receive large amounts of rain
Places that receive lots of rain may experience dry periods
HERE? We have wet summers

32. LA NINA
Surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific are colder than average
Hurricanes damage greater in La Nina times
HERE? We have dry summers

33. Solar Activity
Formation of sunspots appear to correspond with warm periods in Europe and North America
11 year cycle

34. Earth’s Motion Orbit and Tilt Earth’s tilt causes the seasons
Change in the degree of tilt or shape of orbit could cause global climate changes

35. Natural Processes that Change Climate
CO2 Fluctuations
Changes in plant growth rates
CO2 levels fall during the growing season and rise in the winter

36. Natural Processes that Change Climate
Ocean Acidification
Decrease in the ocean’s pH levels in the ocean. CO2 is absorbed by the ocean and forms carbonic acid.
Coral Reefs: High levels of CO2 negatively affects corals making their shells.
50% of coral reefs have been destroyed

37. Human Impact on Climate Change
The Greenhouse Effect
Is a natural warming of both Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface
Makes life as we know it possible
Major Gases: Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide
Humans have added more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere in the pass 200 years by burning fossil fuels

38. Global Warming
As a result of increases in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as well as other greenhouse gases, global temperatures have increased
Affects weather and climates

39. Temperatures Rising due to Global Warming
Effects
Glaciers melting
Greenland—If all of the ice melts, oceans will rise 23 feet
Antarctic—major reduction in ice coverage
Permafrost in Tundra is releasing CO2 that is stored under the ice

40. Hottest Years
Since 1980, the Earth has had 19 of its 20 hottest years on record
2010
2005
2009
2007
2006
1998
2002
2003
2001
1997

41. Antarctica Melting
If all of the ice in the glaciers of Antarctica melts, the oceans will rise