Prevailing wind Ocean surface currents Polar easterlies Westerlies

Prevailing wind Ocean surface currents Polar easterlies Westerlies Trade winds Westerlies Polar easterlies • Ocean currents are driven by the prevailing wind direction • Temperature along coast o From pole toward equator = cold o From equator toward pole = warm

How Ocean Currents Affect Temperatures on Land Warm current from tropics Australia North Atlantic currents Prevailing easterlies bring warm, moist air to land Warm Gulf Stream current Prevailing westerlies 13. 05. c

Relation between ocean currents and precipitation Red: warm currents Blue: cold currents Southern Africa Cold currents keep west coast drier South Atlantic Ocean Warm, tropical currents make east coast wetter Indian Ocean 13. 05. d

Namib desert: effect of cold ocean current

Regional climates: • Where are the deserts? • Where are the humid climates?

Humid topics (rainforest)

Tropical wet and dry: monsoons

How are weather patterns in India different in January from July?

How are weather patterns in India different in January from July?

Effect of ocean temperature on mid-latitude climates

Louisiana: warm ocean Other examples: South America? Africa? Australia? California: cold ocean

Where are the humid mid-latitude climates? Where are the dry mid-latitude climates?