1. Climate

2. Weather v Climate Weather Climate
Conditions in the atmosphere of one place over a short period of time.
Weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time.

3. Factors Affecting Climates
Latitude
Air Masses
Continentality
Elevation
Mountain Barriers
Ocean Currents
Pressure Cells
Storms

4. Latitude Most important control on climate
Lower Latitude = Higher Temperature
Middle Latitude = Seasonal Temperature
Higher Latitude = Lower Temperature

5. Air Masses
Air takes on the characteristics of the land or water it passes over.
Southern Europe = Mediterranean Climate
Hot and Dry in the Summer (due to Sahara)
Cool and Wet In Winter (due to Northern Europe)
Sahara Desert = Hot Air
Himalayas = Cold Air

6. Continentality Distance from water
The farther away from water the greater change between winter and summer.
Land does not hold heat as well as water.
For example, two cities at same latitude
San Francisco
Jan. 57/ Jul. 69
Kansas City
Jan. 22/ Jul. 89

7. Elevation The higher the elevation the colder and drier the air is.
Air gets thin as it rises.
Cannot continue to hold heat or moisture.

8. Mountain Barriers Mountains block precipitation.
Windward: Side that air blows on that gets rain.
Leeward: Side without rain.
Example: Texas Panhandle is dry because Rocky Mountains block rain.

9. Ocean Currents Water of the oceans distribute heat.
Warm air from equator heads to poles, cold water from poles head to equator
Example: Marine West Coast Climate
Western Europe is much warmer (and wetter) than places of similar latitude because of warmer ocean currents.
Waters on the east coasts tend to be warm.
Waters on the west coasts tend to be cool.

10. Pressure Cells Lower Pressure Cells = Rising Warm Air
Higher Pressure Cells = Falling Cool Air
0-30°= Low Pressure
30-60°= High Pressure
60-90°= Low Pressure

11. Looking With LACEMOPS

12. Storm Systems Changes data but not long term patterns.
For example, hurricanes bring rain but not all year and not every year.

13. Climate Zones: Polar *Ice Cap *Tundra *Subarctic Very Cold All Year
Cold with little vegetation
*Subarctic
-Cold snowy winters, cool rainy summers

14. Climate Zones: Temperate
Marine West Coast
Warm summers, cool winters, always wet
Humid Continental
Warm rainy summers, snowy winters
Humid Subtropical
Hot rainy summers, mild winters

15. Climate Zones: Temperate to Arid
*Mediterranean
Warm dry summers, cool short winters
*Semi-Arid
-Hot dry summer, cool dry winter
*Arid
Hot and dry all year

16. Climate Zones: Tropical
Tropical Wet and Dry
Hot all year, rainy/dry seasons
Tropical Wet
Hot and rainy all year

17. Climate Zones: Special
Highlands
Varies with altitude

18. Review The lower the latitude the ____ the climates
Air that passes over a desert will spread _____ and ______ air.
If a place is far from water ____________.
The higher the elevation the ____ the air.
Moutains often block _____.

19. LACEMOPS REVIEW 1. Most important influence on climate
2. Type of precipitation that occurs above the equator where hot air rises
3. Mountains often block ______ leaving one side of a mountain a desert
4. The position of the ____ causes earth’s seasons, climates, and day/night.
5. Explains why climates in the center of a continent have more extreme changes in temperatures.
A. Continentality
B. Precipitation
C. Sun
D. Latitude
E. Convectional

20. Climate and Ecosystems
Climate: Average of temperatures and precipitation over a long period of time.
Ecosystem: Interaction of plant, animal life, and the physical environment.
Biomes: Major types of ecosystems in various regions of the world.

21. Climate

22. Grasslands (Center of Continents)
Forests
Tropical Rainforest
Occur where wet and hot (Tropics)
Broadleaf Evergreens (Keep Leaves All Year)
Most diverse animals and plants
Mid-Latitude
Seasonal climates (Middle Latitudes)
Deciduous (Shed Their Leaves)
Coniferous
Occur in cold climates (Polar)
Needle Leaves and Cones to Protect Seeds
Grasslands (Center of Continents)
Tropical
Warm lands near equator
Have wet and dry seasons
Temperate
Occur in middle latitudes
Precipitation Varies
Deserts
Arid (Dry)
Specialized plants and animals
Tundra
Temperatures are always cool or cold
Small flowers, few plants, moss, lichen
Least diverse wildlife on earth