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Published byNathaniel Butler Modified over 9 years ago
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Chapter 14 Climate
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Defining Climate Climate = long term weather patterns… – Averages and variations in temp., precip., wind, etc. Normals: – 30+ year averages of daily high and low temp, rainfall, wind speed and wind direction, measured at a specific location – Normals are not necessarily usual weather conditions
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Factors that Influence Climate Latitude (north or south of the equator) Topography (rain shadow effect) Air masses
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Climate Classification Köppen’s classification system—based on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation – Tropical (high temp. year round) – Dry—largest area (low precipitation) – Mild (warm summers, cool winters) – Continental (warm summers, cold winters) – Polar—also highlands (low temp. year round)
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Microclimates Microclimate—small localized climate Heat Islands
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Long-Term Climate Changes Ice ages—currently we are in an interglacial period.
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Short-Term Climate Changes The reason for the seasons: axial tilt
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Short-Term Climate Changes El-Niño—changes in southern Pacific Ocean with global effects Volcanoes tend to decrease global temperatures
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Natural Causes of Climate Change Solar/sunspot activity—11 year cycle Maunder minimum: low sunspot activity from 1645 to 1716 corresponds to “Little Ice Age.” Long-term changes in Earth’s orbit, tilt, and wobble cause cycles in temperature (ice ages)
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Natural greenhouse effect NOT related to the hole in the ozone layer!
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Impact of Human Activities Anthropogenic climate change (global warming) Increase in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere due to: – Burning fossil fuels – Deforestation
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