Earth Science Notes Climate Climate Climate a pattern

Earth Science Notes Climate

Climate • Climate – a pattern of weather that occurs in an area over a long period of time

Factors Affecting Climate • Latitude of the Earth – the closer to the equator the more direct the sunlight is – Tropics – between 23. 5 o. N and 23. 5 o. S latitude – Temperate – 23. 5 – 66. 5 o – Polar 66. 5 o – 90 o

Factors Affecting Climate • Large bodies of water – water heats up and cools down more slowly than land – Coastal regions are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter

Factors Affecting Climate • Ocean currents – warm currents warms the land they pass

Factors Affecting Climate • Altitude - the higher up it is the less air particles there are to absorb the radiation from the sun

Factors Affecting Climate • Mountains – keep moister air on one side

Factors Affecting Climate • Cities – air pollution can trap heat

Climate Types Koppen’s System of Climate Classification • Examines temperature, precipitation, and plant types • Six Climate Types – – – Tropical Mild Dry Continental Polar high elevation

Organisms’ Response to Climate Types Adaptations – response to climate • Structural – Fur – mammals are insulated from cold temperatures – Thick fleshy stems – hold moisture

Organisms’ Response to Climate Types Adaptations – response to climate • Behavior – Hibernation – period of reduced activity during cold months – Estivation – similar to hibernation, occurs during periods of intense heat

Climate Changes Seasons – periods of climate change caused by the amount of solar radiation an area receives • Caused by the Earth's tilt toward the sun – Tilted toward = summer – Tilted away = winter • Tropics experience little change • High altitudes near pole experience great change

Climate Changes

Climate Changes El Nino – an occasional climate event in which strong pacific winds weaken and sometimes reverse.

What Is an El Niño? • The waters off the west coast of South America are normally very cold for their latitudes. At Lima, Peru (12°S), ocean temperatures vary from about 16°C in the winter to about 20°C in the summer. This cold current of water extends nearly to the equator before turning to the west. • Normally, for a period of just a few weeks around Christmas each year, this cold water is replaced by a warm current. This event is called El Niño, Spanish for "the child. " Every 2 to 7 years, however, this warm water event lasts much longer and is much more pronounced. Then it is called a major El Niño event.

El Nino – Spanish for “The Nino”

Climate Changes Effects of El Nino • Ocean temps near Peru increase • Jet stream is altered, changing wind and precipitation patterns around the world • Africa and Australia may experience droughts • La Nina – winds blowing across the pacific are stronger than normal

Effects of El Nino • Top is under normal conditions • Bottom is under El Nino conditions

Summary • • How does climate relate to weather? What factors affecting Earth’s Climate? What are the different types of climates? What are some causes of climate change? – El Nino / La Nina