1. Climate
Integrated Science 1

2. Climate and Weather
Climate: Average, year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in a region
i.e the Bay Area
Weather is the day-to-day conditions of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular place and time
i.e Mill Valley
Both are measured in terms of temperature, wind speed, humidity( % H2O in the air), cloudiness, precipitation(rain, sleet, snow)

3. Climate What things impact climate? LAPTOP V acronym Latitude Altitude
Proximity(closeness) to H2O
Topography (the physical or natural features of an object or entity and their structural relationships)
Ocean Currents
Prevailing Winds
Vegetation

4. Latitude
The tilting of the Earth causes the Sun’s rays to strike the Earth at different angles.
Steep Angle in summer means more heat (NYC=73° in summer)
Shallow Angle in the winter means less heat (NYC=27° in winter)
Because of the tilting of the Earth different parts of the Earth receive different amount of sunlight which can be transferred into heat.
Seasonal changes occur because of the Earth’s relative position to the Sun

5. http://www. cbs3springfield

6. Latitude
The Tropics (23.5 °North to 23.5° South) receive the most sunlight as they are closest to the Equator and receive sunlight at almost right angles
The temperatures are warm all year
The temperate zones have moderate climate with colder winters than summers
The polar zones receive the least amount of sunlight as the angle is smaller and are cold almost all of the time

7. Latitude

8. Altitude
Altitude is the height above a reference source such as sea level
For every 1000 meters in altitude the temperature drops by 3°C or 6.5°F for every 1000 feet
Therefore the higher you go, the lower the temperature on average

9. Altitude Why does this happen? Hints Answer Heating of the Earth
Air Pressure
Answer
Earth is heated by the Sun
Heat is radiated into the atmosphere
Less air because of lower pressure lets more heat escape

10. The Sun’s Heat

11. Proximity to Water
Land is easier to heat and loses heat easier than water
Because of this coastal areas or areas close to large bodies of water have a constant or consistent yearly temperature range
Areas away from water have a variable yearly temperature ranges

12. FOG 101
Fog is a meteorological phenomenon caused by a supersaturation of the air, so that it can no longer hold water vapor. The water vapor precipitates out into small droplets of condensation, or fog
Radiation fog usually occurs after dark, when the Earth radiates heat outwards. As the heat rises, it is cooled, causing saturation conditions and fog.
Advection fog happens most frequently around the ocean because the salt increases the humidity, and condensation can form at a much lower humidity level around salt

13. Bay Area Fog
Why does the fog move in and out of the Bay during the summer?
Cold always flows to Hot
Ground is heated easier than water
Heat pulls cool air in

14. Topography
Climates differ on the windward (facing the prevailing wind) and leeward (away from the wind) sides
Air on the windward side cools as it rises and condenses forming clouds
Clouds need to reduce weight to get over the mountains, so they release rain
The dry air warms as it descends and produces arid environments

15. Topography

16. Ocean Currents
Depending on the current, the air temperature above can increase or decrease
This depends on the flow of water and the depth of the current
Currents from low latitudes more warm water to areas of higher latitude
i.e. Gulf Stream
Currents from higher latitudes help moderate warmer climates
i.e the California Current

17. Ocean Currents

18. Prevailing Winds
The three basic wind systems in each hemisphere are polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies and trade winds
They are have distinct areas of origin.
The volume and speed of the air masses impact climate.

19. Prevailing Winds

20. Vegetation
Vegetation can impact both temperature and precipitation patterns in an area
Plants influence the amount of the sun’s energy absorption and the speed of the energy’s release
Transpiration causes the release of water vapor