1. CLIMATE

2. What is Climate?
Climate - the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general over a long period

3. Köppen Climate Classification System
A - Tropical Moist Climates: all months have average temperatures above 18° Celsius.
B - Dry Climates: with deficient precipitation during most of the year.
C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters.
D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters.
E - Polar Climates: with extremely cold winters and summers.

4. Köppen Climate Sub Categores

6. Factors Affecting Climate
Temperature Factors
1. Latitude
Average Yearly Temperature
Yearly Temperature Range
2. Altitude
3. Ocean Currents
4. Marine Vs. Continental
Rainfall Factors
1. Latitude
2. Mountains - Orographic Precipitation

7. Latitude - Average Yearly Temperature
Most direct rays = highest temp
As latitude increases, average yearly temperatures decreases
Avg. Yearly Temp.
Least direct = lowest temp.
0° °
Latitude

8. Latitude - Yearly Temperature Range
Equatorial areas receive the direct rays of the Sun for most of the year. Therefore, the yearly temperature does not change much.
Low Latitudes
Temperature
Mid Latitudes
High Latitudes
JFMAMJJASOND
Month

9. Latitude - Yearly Temperature Range
As latitude increases, yearly temperature range increases
Yearly Temperature Range
0° °
Latitude

10. Altitude - Average Yearly Temperature Range
Altitude - the height of an object above sea level.
Low average yearly temperature range
High average yearly temperature range

11. Altitude - Average Yearly Temperature
As altitude increases, average yearly temperature decreases
Average Yearly Temperature
Altitude

12. Ocean Currents
Ocean currents move warm water from the equator towards the poles.
…and cold water from the poles back to the equator to be heated again.

13. This graph shows the average monthly temperatures for two cities, A and B, which are both located at 41ºN latitude.
Why is there a difference in the average yearly temperature range for the two cities?
Because City A is located inland (continental) and City B is located near water (marine)

14. Marine vs. Continental
Sea or land locations affects temperature ranges.
land areas - warmer summers and cooler winters.
Large temp range
Coastal areas - cooler summers and milder/warmer winters.
Small temp range

15. Rainfall Factors - Latitude
Uneven heating of the Earth produces global wind & pressure belts. These belts determine the wetness or dryness of an area.
Low Pressure - rising air creates precipitation
High Pressure - sinking air creates a lack of precipitation

16. Latitude Continued What latitudes are areas of low pressure?
What is the climate like there?
What latitudes are areas of high pressure?
0°, 60°N, 60°S
High rainfall
30°N, 30°S, 90°N, 90°S
Low rainfall

17. Orographic Precipitation
LEEWARD
WINDWARD
4.Condenses
Windward
5. Precipitation
6. Sinks
3. Cools
7. Compresses
2. Expands
rises
1. Rises
8. Warms
Warm air
Arid/Dry
Humid/Moist

18. Windward Vs. Leeward
Rainfall occurs on the windward side of the mountain where the air is rising.
Cool & Wet
It is dry on the leeward side of
the mountain where the air is sinking.
Warm & Dry

19. El Nino
A warming of the surface water of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, occurring every 4 to 12 years and causing unusual global weather patterns.
El Nino brings heavy rain to western South American and drought to eastern Australia and Indonesia.
Animation

20. Lake Effect Snow
The air moving over the water needs to be cooler than the water.
The surface of the lake can’t be frozen

21. Lake Effect Snow
Water begins evaporating off of the surface of the lake into the air.
Fetch - distance over open water
The greater distance the wind blows over the warm water, the greater the convection /evaporation.

22. Warm air over water begins to
Lake Effect Snow
CLOUD FORMATION
Warm air over water begins to
CONDENSES
COOL
EXPAND
RISE

23. Lake Effect Snow
In some locations, wind blowing from a lake onshore is forced to climb up hills creating the orographic effect

24. Areas Affected by Lake Effect