earth’s climate. latitude – distance north or south of equator elevation – height above sea...

EARTH’S CLIMATEEARTH’S CLIMATE

• Latitude – distance north or south of equator

• Elevation – height above sea level

• Topography – features on land

• Water Bodies – lakes and oceans

• Atmospheric Circulation – global winds

• Vegetation – type and amount of plants

What Factors Affect Climate?What Factors Affect Climate?

LATITUDELATITUDESun strikes Earth’s surface at different

angles creates variations in climate

Temperate zones

Hot summers and cold winters, 23.5o to 66.5o

north and south of equator

Tropical zonesWarm all year, 23.5o north

to 23.5o south of equator

Climate ZonesClimate ZonesDifferences in solar energy create climate zones

Polar zonesCold all year, 66.5o north

and south to the poles

• Less solar energy is transferred into atmosphere in polar regions than in tropics

• Differences in energy affects weather and climate

• Pressure differences produce winds– Affects evaporation rates, cloud formation, air

masses, and storms

Energy TransferEnergy Transfer

ELEVATIONELEVATION

Mt. Whitney and the Owens Valley, Eastern California

• Elevation increases, temperature decreases• approximately -6.5oC

every 1000 meters or -44oF every 3,281 feet

• Elevation also determines the amount of precipitation

Pair share: How does elevation affect temperatures and precipitation?Pair share: Why?

Pair share:Pair share: Can you Can you name a mountain name a mountain range with a Rain range with a Rain Shadow Effect ? Shadow Effect ?

• Humid air moves up a mountain: cools, forms clouds, then precipitates

• Moisture is lost, very dry on other side

TOPOGRAPHYTOPOGRAPHYCan create a Rain Shadow Effect

Temperature of water influences atmosphere

above it

WATER BODIES AND WATER BODIES AND ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATIONATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION

Global winds distribute heat and moisture

around Earth

VEGETATIONVEGETATION• Temperature – vegetation influences how much of

sun’s energy is absorbed and released

• Precipitation - plants release water vapor and particles into the air creating clouds (the more plants the more humid it is).

Pair sharePair share: how do you think cutting down the rain forest in : how do you think cutting down the rain forest in Brazil has affected the climate there?Brazil has affected the climate there?

White Board ReviewWhite Board Review

1.1. How does latitude How does latitude affect climate?affect climate?

2.2. How does How does elevation affect elevation affect climate?climate?

3.3. What effect does a What effect does a mountain range mountain range have on climate?have on climate?

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/global/climate.htm