Transcript precip factors

Climate: Factors That
Affect Precipitation
Objective: Explain what affects
precipitation and its role in
climate.
Precipitation & Climate

The amount of precipitation is 1 of the 2
factors that determines a city’s climate.
What affects precipitation?

2 natural factors affect precipitation
Prevailing winds
&
 Mountain ranges

What is a prevailing wind?

A prevailing wind is a wind that blows
more often from one direction than
from any other.
Prevailing Winds &
Moisture

The amount of moisture the wind carries
is dependant on 2 things:


how the wind forms
&
direction from which it blows
Wind Formation

Winds form either by:


Rising warm air
OR
Sinking cool air
brings precipitation
brings little
precipitation
Wind Direction

Land breeze (land


Brings little precipitation
Sea breeze (water

water)
Brings more moisture
land)
Mountain Ranges &
Precipitation

Mountain ranges:

act as a barrier to the prevailing winds
&

they force the air to rise, which cools it &
causes precipitation
Sides of the Mountain

Windward side: side that face the wind


Receives most of moisture
Leeward side: side that faces a way
from the wind

Receives little moisture
Diagram of
Windward/Leeward
Summary
1.
2.
Add questions to the left column of
your notes.
In place of a summary please answer
the following question:
How is it possible for a desert to exist next to a
large body of water?