Transcript Climate

Climate
What are the conditions that
contribute to the climate of an
area?
Day 1: Factors Effecting Climate
 Climate is the pattern of long term weather
conditions found in an area.
 Working with your partner brainstorm a list
of factors that determine the climate in a
region.
Main Factors that
Influence Temperature.
 Latitude – temperatures increase as you get
nearer to the equator. Seasonal differences
between winter and summer are greater near the
poles because of Earth’s tilt.
 Altitude – temperatures decrease as you get
higher.
 Proximity to Large Bodies of Water – water heats
and cools more slowly than land.
 Ocean Currents – can carry energy from warmer
regions with them or cooler weather if they
originate near Earth’s poles.
Factors that mainly affect
precipitation
 Prevailing winds – may bring in a certain
type of weather from where they originate.
For example, winds coming in from the
oceans will bring moisture.
 Topography – Mountains can cause rain
shadows by blocking block prevailing winds.
 Seasonal Winds – often bring in moisture
(like Monsoons) or drier air to a region.
Day 2: Focus on oceans.
 The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are
cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when
warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea.

 The centre of continents are subject to a large range of
temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be very
hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it
reaches the centre of the continent.
Day 2: Questions
 1)
Which location would you expect to have greater
differences between summer temperatures and winter
temperatures: Tampa or Orlando, Florida? Which would
have more moisture?
 2) Why do oceans and lakes moderate the temperature of
a region? Relate your answer. to the heat capacity of
water versus the heat capacity of soil and rock.
 3) Ocean currents can also affect the climate of a region.
What ocean current helps keep Florida an attractive
vacation destination during the winter?
Day 2 Answers
 1) Orlando, in general, has greater seasonal and daily differences in
temperature than Tampa due to its interior location. Tampa would
have more moisture and thunderstorms due to its location on the coast.
 2) Water has a higher heat capacity than land. Water therefore heats
up slowly and cools down slowly, moderator the temperature of things
around it. Land heats up quickly and slows down quickly.
 3) The Gulf Stream originates near the equator and flows past
Florida’s east coast. The Gulf stream flows far enough north to keep
the climates of Ireland, Great Britain and even the coast of Norway
warmer than they normally would be based on their latitude.
Day 3: Affect of Topography
 Mountains can affect the climate on either
side of them by creating rain shadows.
The satellite image to the
right shows a classic rain
shadow effect on one of the
islands of Hawaii. Notice
the stark contrast between
lush, tropical vegetation and
fry lands. See where the
clouds are located.
What Causes the Rain Shadow Effect?
1) As warm, moist air rises
along the windward side of
mountain, it expands due to
lower air pressure.
2) Expansion causes cooling
(let the pressure out of a
tire and feel the cool air.)
3) As the air cool, it
condenses, forms clouds
and eventually drops it
moisture.
4. Drier air than crosses the mountain top. As it descends
the leeward side of the mountain the opposite happens. The
air compresses, warms and evaporates.
Day 3: Rain Shadow.
 1. Expansion of air causes it to ________.
– A) warm up and evaporate.
– C) warm up and condense
B) cool down and evaporate
D) cool down and condense
2. Compression of air causes it to ________.
– A) warm up and evaporate.
B) cool down and evaporate
– C) warm up and condense
D) cool down and condense
3.
Why does air expand as it rises and compress as it descends?
4.
In a rain shadow effect moisture falls on the windward side of a
mountain or the leeward side? (The windward side is the side that
the prevailing winds hit first).
Day 3: Final Review
 4. Is this a rain shadow?
Day 4: Quiz (Bonjour)