Transcript Latitude

Climate is affected by Earth's Features
Latitude affects Temperature.
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Latitude is the distance of a place north or south of
the equator.
Temperatures are generally lower as you get farther
away from the equator.
For example: It is warmer in Singapore because it is
closer to the equator, and cooler in Moscow because
it is further from the equator.
Latitude affects Temperature
Major Climate Zones
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There are three major climate zones.
 Polar Zone
 Temperate Zone
 Tropical Zone
Polar Zone
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Polar climates are near the North and
South Poles. Between 90 degrees(the
poles) and 60 degrees latitude.
They are affected by the Polar Easterlies.
It is always cold with an average yearly
temperature below 0 degrees (freezing)
and snowy weather.
Temperate Zone
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Temperate climates are between 60 degrees
and 30 degrees latitude. This zone is affected
by the Prevailing Westerlies.
Temperate climates can have mild summers
and winters, or warm summers and cold
winters with seasonal swings in temperatures.
There are inland deserts with very hot
temperatures during the day and cold
temperatures at night.
Tropical Zone
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Tropical climates are located close the
equator, from 0 degrees to 30 degrees
latitude. This zone is affected by the
Trade Winds.
Temperatures are usually hot with high
humidity. There are no 'winters',
temperatures stay warm year round due to
the year round supply of direct sunlight.
Elevation affects Temperature
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Elevation or altitude of an area is the distance
above sea level.
Air thins as you climb up in the atmosphere,
thin air holds less heat.
Temperatures decrease as elevation increases.
For Example, it gets cooler in Asheville, NC because
of the higher elevation in the mountains; than in
Wilmington NC, which is at sea level.
Elevation affects temperature
Water affects Temperature
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Water changes temperature much more
slowly than land does.
This causes the temperature of the water
in the oceans to be fairly constant. Areas
close to the oceans experience constant
temperatures as a result, called 'oceanic
climates.'
Water affects Temperature
Land changes temperature much
faster than water.
 This causes areas far from large
bodies of water to have greater ranges
in temperature called 'continental
climates.'
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Water affects Temperature
Mountains affect Precipitation
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Mountain ranges alter the flow of
prevailing winds. Air must rise to get
over a mountain, and rising air cools and
becomes incapable of holding as much
water.
Therefore the side of the mountain facing
the prevailing wind (the windward side)
will get a lot of precipitation.
Mountains affect Precipitation
The side of the mountain not facing
the prevailing winds (the leeward
side) gets sinking air that has lost its
moisture.
 This results in a desert in the
mountain's rain shadow.
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Mountains affect precipitation