1. Weather, Climate, & Seasons http://youtu.be/zz_CRzcIT-Q

2.  layer of gases that surrounds the Earth  composition: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen

4.  Troposphere  Lowest layer of the atmosphere  From sea level up to ~ 10 mi.  Where weather occurs  Stratosphere  From ~ 10-30 mi. out  Where ozone layer is (filter for UV light)  Mesosphere  Thermosphere

5.  Weather - condition of the atmosphere at any one time. Ex. Rainy, hot, dry, cold, etc.  Climate – average weather conditions over a long period of time. Ex. Arid, temperate, tropical, etc.

6.  Latitude zones (sunshine)  Elevation  Wind (direction and speed)  Topographic barriers  Ocean currents  Precipitation  Temperature  Cloud coverage

7.  Because of earth’s tilt, different areas receive different amounts of sun.

8. Low (Tropical) Mid (Temperate) High (Polar) 0˚ Equator 23.5˚S Tropic of Capricorn 23.5˚N Tropic of Cancer 66.5˚S Antarctic Circle 66.5˚N Arctic Circle

9.  Tropical – hot and humid year-round, little seasonal changes, two seasons are wet & dry, little changes in daylight hours, average temps range between 72-90˚

10.  Temperate – (moderate); has 4 distinct seasons each clearly marked by changes, temps are not extreme, but vary greatly by season, rainfall is moderate

11.  Polar – characterized by extremely cold temps. in long winter seasons, very short summers with mild temps, during summer long hours of daylight, during winter very few hours of daylight

14.  Refers to height at or above sea level  As you go up in elevation (mountains and high plateaus), the temperature drops  Known as vertical or highland climates

15.  High elevation + high latitude = coldest climates  Low elevation + low latitude = warmest climates

16.  Air movements caused by the sun heating Earth’s surface unevenly  Distribute heat and moisture around the world  Have global and seasonal patterns  Ex. Monsoons

17.  Movement of ocean water by forces such as wind and tides  Occur at the surface as well as deep under water; vary in temperature  Cause temperatures of nearby land to be more uniform and moderate

18.  Seasonal change in the direction of prevailing winds, often bringing heavy rains. Affects mostly country of India, but also other SE Asian countries

19.  Orographic (rain shadow) effect – the contrast in precipitation caused by a change in elevation, primarily due to mountains.

20.  Windward side - gets the moisture, more abundant vegetation  Leeward side - faces away from the moisture and is dry, creates a rain shadow desert  Notable rain shadow deserts:  Death Valley in California  Eastern Costa Rica  Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic)  NW of Himalaya Mts.

24. Draw the following diagram in your notes. Add: - cloud with precip. - vegetation - weather characteristics

26.  Tropical storms that develop near the equator due to the very rapid evaporation of warm ocean waters  Happen in the late summer months  Winds of at least 74 mph  Hurricanes in the Atlantic, typhoons in the Pacific

28.  Warm ocean current that starts in the Gulf of Mexico and travels along the east coast of the U.S.  Crosses North Atlantic Ocean and brings warm water to the British Isles & Norway, making them warmer than they normally would be  Also drives tropical storms and hurricanes to Gulf and east coasts of U.S.

29. The Gulf Stream flows from the Caribbean along the coast of eastern North America, as far north as southern Canada, and then across the Atlantic to the British Isles and Norway. The Gulf Stream flows from the Caribbean along the coast of eastern North America, as far north as southern Canada, and then across the Atlantic to the British Isles and Norway.

30.  ENSO – El Niño Southern Oscillation  A weather phenomenon in which rising temperatures of the Pacific Ocean brings heavier than usual rains to the Eastern Pacific  Causes extreme drought in the Western Pacific  Disrupts marine life as well

31. Normal Conditions

32. El Niño Conditions

34. Earth tilts at a 23.5˚ angle, perpendicular to the ecliptic Ecliptic – plane on which Earth orbits around the Sun

35.  Rotation - one complete spin of the Earth on its axis - takes 24 hours.  Revolution - one complete orbit of earth around the sun - takes 365.25 days (leap year).

36.  Spring, summer, autumn, winter  caused by the tilt and revolution of the Earth  Duration of each season varies according to latitude zones  Seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

37.  Are the first days of every season  Solstice - longest or shortest day of the year  June 21 – summer solstice  Dec. 22 – winter solstice *for Northern Hem  Equinox – equal day night  March 21 – Vernal equinox  Sept. 22 – Autumnal equinox *for Northern Hem  Opposite for Southern Hemisphere

39. DATE _____ (solstice/equinox) Northern Hemisphere Season Southern Hemisphere Season March 21 June 21 Sept. 22 Dec. 22 Draw this chart on your notes and fill it in.