Climate Climate Longterm prevailing weather conditions Example Morro

Climate

Climate • Long-term prevailing weather conditions • Example – Morro Bay and Fresno

Factors that determine climate • Latitude • Atmospheric Circulation • Oceanic circulation • Local geography • Solar activity • Volcanic activity

The Greenhouse Effect • The Earth has a natural insulating blanket called the atmosphere.

• Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor and a few other gasses trap heat energy and maintain the Earth’s temperature range.

Latitude • Distance from the equator • Measured in degrees

Latitude continued • More solar energy falls upon a given area at low latitudes than at higher latitudes

Zones • Polar zone – North and South poles • Temperate zone – between tropics and polar • Tropics – near equator

Atmospheric Circulation • Cold air sinks because it is more dense • As it sinks it compresses and warms

• Warm air rises • Holds more water

• Movement of air causes wind

• The Earth’s rotation results in Westerly and Trade Winds • And effect precipitation patterns

• Solar radiation and the movement of the earth on it’s axis is mainly responsible for long-term climate patterns

Annotate and Summarize • Write at least three questions in the margin of your notes • Write a paragraph summarizing the lecture material at the end of your notes