Climates of the Earth 1 Earth Sun Relationships

Climates of the Earth 1

Earth – Sun Relationships 2

Climate & Weather • Weather & Climate are not the same! – Climate is what you expect & weather is what you get! 3

Earth’s Tilt and Rotation • Axis – imaginary line running from pole to pole – Earth rotates around this • Makes one rotation every 24 hours – Makes Day & Night – Earth is tilted at approx. 23 ½ degrees • Tilt affects climate of a place 4

Earth’s Revolution • • • The Earth’s journey around the sun One revolution = 365 ¼ days Causes seasons – Seasons are reversed north & south of the equator • Example: It is now summer in Australia – Around March 21, the sun’s rays fall directly on the Equator – equinox – equal night – daylight & nighttime hours are equal. • In the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the first day spring 5

The Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn • Solstice – Sun’s direct rays are shining on one of the two tropic lines – 23 ½ N – Tropic of Cancer – Summer in N. Hemisphere – June 21 st – 23 ½ S – Tropic of Capricorn – Winter in N. Hemisphere – December 22 nd 6

The Poles • Dramatic differences in sunlight here! – 6 months = constant sunlight – 6 months = little to no sunlight 7

The Greenhouse Effect • Earth’s atmosphere is like the glass in a greenhouse – Traps the sun’s warmth even in the cold weather • Global Warming – rise in atmospheric CO 2 levels – Caused by human activities • Burning of coal, oil, and natural gas 8

Factors Affecting Climate 9

Latitude & Climate • Low Latitudes – Between the Tropic Lines (near the equator) – Called the Tropics • High Latitudes – Polar Areas • • North of the Arctic Circle • South of the Antarctic Circle Middle Latitudes – Between the Tropic of Cancer & Arctic Circle – Between the Tropic of Capricorn & Antarctic Circle – Most variable weather exists here • Draw a diagram that includes the labels above 10

Latitude Diagram Low Middle High 11

Elevation and Climate • Elevation influences climate, regardless of the level of latitude – Increased altitude = air thins – Thin air = less heat retained 12

Wind & Ocean Currents • Wind & water combine w/the effects of the sun to influence weather • & climate Wind Patterns – Winds blow in fairly consistent patterns – prevailing winds – – Coriolis Effect – causes winds to blow diagonally • The Horse Latitudes – Why are they called this? ? ? – Doldrums – windless areas near the Equator • Ocean Currents – Just like the wind, cold and warm streams of water (currents), move through the oceans • El Nino – Periodic change in the pattern of ocean currents & water temperature 13

Landforms & Climate • Landforms alter climate – Example: Mountains – – – Windward Leeward Rain shadow • Draw a diagram on your notes that includes the terms above! 14

World Climate Patterns 15

Climate Regions • Tropical Climates – Two – Tropical Rain Forest (hot & wet throughout the year) & Tropical Savanna (dry winters & wet summers) – Found in the low latitudes (Tropics) 16

Climate Regions (cont. ) • Dry Climates – Two types – desert (dry w/ sparse plant life) & steppe (dry, largely treeless grasslands) – Occur in many parts of the world 17

Climate Regions (cont. ) • Mid-Latitude Climates – Four - Marine west coast, Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Humid Continental – What climate do we have? 18

Climate Regions (cont. ) • High Latitude Climate – Two – Subarctic & Tundra • Brrrrrrr!!! – Permafrost found here 19

Climate Regions (cont. ) • Highlands Climate – Elevation can determine climate regardless of the latitude! – Mts. = cooler 20

Climatic Changes • Climate changes over time because of many reasons – many which are unknown! • Humans and how they treat the Earth have a lot to do with it! 21