Transcript Weather or Climate?

Climate and
Weather
Factors Creating the World’s Climate
Weather Conditions
• Weather: condition of the
atmosphere at a particular time
– Includes:
• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Humidity (how much water is in
the air)
– Weather changes because of
air masses, or large areas of
air that have the same
temperature and humidity
– Boundary between two
masses is called a front
• A warm humid front usually
means a thunderstorm
Climate Elements
• Climate: the
average condition of
the atmosphere over
a long period of time.
– Includes:
• Average temperature
• Average precipitation
• Amount of change from
one season to another
– Usually is calculated
over a period of 30 years
Five Factors Affecting Climate
• Five factors that affect climate are:
– SUN/LATITUDE
– OCEAN CURRENTS
– PREVAILING WINDS
– PEOPLE
– LANDFORMS/ELEVATION
• NatGeo Video: Climate and weather
Weather or Climate?
• It snowed a lot in January this year.
– Weather
• Summers are usually hot and rainy and
winters are cool but dry.
– Climate
• It is usually hot and dry here in the
summer.
– Climate
• Nebraska receives an average rainfall of 30
cm per year.
– Climate
• Last night we received 6 inches of snow.
– Weather
• It’s a beautiful day—warm and sunny.
– Weather
Climate is what
you expect.
Weather is what
you get!
Factor #1: SUN/LATITUDE
• The Sun/Latitude
– The original source of
climate
– Warms the air, water, and
land for all life forms
– Latitude impacts the angle
the sun hits the planet
Factor #2: Ocean Currents
• Ocean Currents
– The movement of water in the oceans impacts climate
– Warm and cold currents, like the Gulf Stream, can alter a
location’s climate significantly
A look below the ocean’ surface exposes diverse
landforms; including undersea mountains, deep
canyons, and broad abyssal plains. Due to this
varied undersea landscape, in combination with the
varied transitions to coastal land, water circulation in
the oceans will naturally change in response to
subterranean contours.
Figure 2.2
reveals that all
the oceans are
connected, and
that large
currents of water
travel
throughout the
oceans. For the
most part, warm
water currents
move from the
equator toward
the poles, while
cold water sinks
in locations at
higher latitudes.
Factor #3: WIND
• Wind
– Movement of warm and cold air
– Prevailing winds come from one direction and blow most of
the time
– Storms are created by the movement of wind and water
around the Earth
• Ocean and Wind Circulation Interactive
Factor #4: People
• People
– Greenhouse Effect
• Warming of the
Earth (Interactive)
• Global Warming
101 (3:04)
– Deforestation
• Cutting down or
destroying forests
Factor #5: Elevation &
Landforms
• Landforms
– Elevation can impact climate – the higher
the elevation, the colder it gets
– Rain Shadow
• Example
World Climate Regions
World Climate Regions
• Climate region: a group of places that
have similar temperatures, precipitation
levels and changes in weather
– Dry Climates
– Humid Temperate Climates
– Humid Equatorial Climates
– Tundra or Ice Climates
– Humid Cold Climates
Dry Climates
• Little to no rain or snow
• Both hot and cold temperatures
• Plant life includes:
– Shrubs
– Cacti
Humid Temperate Climates
• Cool winters and warm summers
• Ample rainfall
• Plant life includes:
– Mixed forests with evergreens
– Leafy trees
Humid Equatorial Climates
•
•
•
•
Found near the equator
High temperatures
Rainfall all or most of the year
Plant life includes:
– Tropical plants and rainforests OR
– Grasslands with trees
Tundra or Ice Climates
• North of the Arctic Circle and south
of the Antarctic Circle
• Long, cold winters and short
summers
• Plant life includes:
– Mosses OR
– No vegetation
Humid Cold Climates
• Cold winters and warm summers
• Rain and snow
• Plant life includes:
– Evergreen forests OR
– Deciduous/leafy forests
Extreme Weather
• Thunderstorm: a storm with lightning
and thunder, usually producing gusty
winds, heavy rain, and sometimes hail
• Tornado: a smaller storm than a
cyclone, with winds powerful enough to
reach 300 mph
• Cyclone: a storm with rotating winds
– Called a typhoon in the Eastern Hemisphere
• Hurricane: A strong storm with
swirling winds and heavy rains
– How Stuff Works: Hurricanes
– Hurricane Paths
Extreme Weather
• Flood: When water covers an area of land that
is usually dry (often after a cyclone)
• Blizzard: A heavy snowstorms with strong
winds and very cold temperatures
• Drought: When the amount of rainfall drops far
below the average amount, usually
accompanied by a heat wave (unusually high
temperatures over a period of time)
• Today’s scientists are working to lessen the
effects of extreme weather on humans and
predict big storms
ANY
QUESTIONS???