Climate Factors that Affect Climate Average weather conditions

Climate

Factors that Affect Climate □ Average weather conditions over a long period of time □ Defined by Many Factors □ Temperature □ Precipitation □ Latitude □ Heat Absorption □ Topography

Temperature and Precipitation □ Two Ways to Measure Temperature □ Average Monthly Temperature □ Yearly Temperature Range □ Two Ways to Measure Temperature □ Average Monthly Precipitation □ Yearly Precipitation Range

Example – Mid Latitude

Example - Tundra

Latitude □ Different Latitudes Receive Different Amounts of Solar Energy □ Determines Temperature and Wind Patterns

Latitude – Solar Energy □ Higher Latitudes Receive Smaller Amounts of Solar Energy □ Lower Latitudes Receive Larger Amounts of Solar Radiation

Latitude – Global Wind Patterns □ Results from the uneven heating of the Earth □ Warm Air Creates Low Pressure (Equator) □ Cold Air Creates High Pressure (Poles) □ Results in Wind

Heat Absorption and Release □ Different areas differ in how they absorb and release heat □ Water Absorbs and Releases Heat at a Slow Rate □ Hence the reason for our late spring □ Land Absorbs and Releases Heat at a Faster Rate □ Influences the amount of heat available to heat the land

Heat Absorption and Release Controlled by the Following □ Specific Heat of Water and Land □ Evaporation Rates □ Ocean Currents □ El Nino – Southern Oscillation □ Seasonal Winds

Heat Absorption Specific Heat and Evaporation □ Water has a high Specific Heat □ The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of water one degree Celsius □ Evaporation □ Temperature Changes of Land Sea vary because of Evaporation □ Evaporation affects Water more than it does Land

Heat Absorption - Ocean Currents □ If wind from the water is blown towards shore it will greatly influence the weather on the land □ EX. Northwest Europe and Gulf Stream □ El Nino – Southern Oscillation □ El Nino – Warm Water Phase □ La Nina – Cool Water Phase □ Has Global Impact on Weather □ 3 – 10 Year Cycle

Ocean Currents – Ocean Conveyor Belt

El Nino – Southern Oscillation

1997 -1999

Heat Absorption - Monsoons □ Caused by the Differentiated Heating of Land Water □ Summer □ Land warms faster than water □ Warm air rises over land is replaced by cool ocean air □ Rain □ Winter □ Land cools faster than water □ Cool air over land is flows away from land □ Drought

It Just Started Raining and Raining…

It Stopped.

Topography □ Recall topography is the surface features of the land □ Such features like mountains can control climate □ Two Factors □ Elevation □ Rain Shadows

Topography - Elevation □ As one rises in elevation, the average temperature decreases □ Even at the equator the peaks of mountains can be capped with snow

Topography – Elevation vs. Latitude

Topography – Mountains □ Mountains cause air masses to rise □ As air masses rise the cool and loose their moisture □ Results in lush vegetation on windward side of the mountain, and desert on leeward side of the mountain □ Examples □ Alps □ Himalayans □ Sierra Nevada

Topography – Rain Shadow

Topography – Rain Shadow

Topography – Tibetan Plateau

Types of Climates □ Three Distinct Climate Regions □ Tropical □ Mid - latitude □ Polar

Factors that Affect Biomes

Climates of the World

Global Climate Change Potential Causes of Global Change □ Plate Tectonics □ Disrupt Ocean Currents □ Disrupt Wind Patterns □ Orbital Changes □ Milankovitch Theory □ 3 Motions on a 20, 000 – 100, 000 Year Cycles □ Human Activity □ Carbon Dioxide □ Volcanic Activity

Milankovitch Theory

Proof is in the Data?

Proof is in the Data?

Potential Impacts of Climate Change □ Global Warming □ Sea – Level Changes