Transcript File
GEO ENGAGE: 9/14 – GLOBAL WARMING DEBATE Get out your notes over Global Warming. FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE GROUPS Use chapter 3 section 2 of the textbook At least 4 main points Be sure to include SHORT definitions for any key terms 2 hand drawn pictures FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE Divide your paper into 4 squares. Label them the following (4 front, 4 back): 1. 2. 3. 4. Low Latitudes Mid-Latitudes High Latitudes Elevation 5. Wind Patterns 6. Ocean Currents 7. El Niño 8. Landforms You will write at least 3 main points for each IN YOUR OWN WORDS! Illustrations Leave room for extra notes I may have! LOW LATITUDES Between the Tropic of Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn (aka-“Tropics”)—includes the Equator! Low numbers in latitude value Receive direct rays from Sun Equator: 6 months a year Each Tropic: 3 months a year Receive indirect rays from Sun Equator: 6 months a year. Each Tropic: 6 months a year Warm to hot climates year round MID LATITUDES Most variable weather on Earth Between Tropic of Cancer & Arctic Circle; between Tropic of Capricorn & Antarctic Circle (~30°- 60° N&S) Ranges from fairly hot to fairly cold (temperate), dramatic changes, but moderate—no extremes! Summer gets warm air from the tropics (low latitudes), winter gets cold air from the polar areas (high-latitudes) HIGH LATITUDES Polar areas= North of the Arctic Circle and South of Antarctic Circle (high numbers in latitude value) Receives constant sunlight for 6 months when pole faces Sun March-September: North has constant daylight, South is in dark (switches for next 6 mos.) Arctic & Antarctic Circles are last point to receive indirect rays (during summer or winter) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5ZT9LCntJA & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QewZYUbmTJA ELEVATION At any latitude, anywhere on Earth, elevation influences climate If high enough in elevation, can have snow on the Equator! As altitude increases, the air thins which absorbs less heat As elevation increases, temperature decreases (3.5° per 1,000 ft) WIND PATTERNS Move clockwise in Northern Hemisphere Moves counterclockwise in Southern Hemisphere ( Coriolis Effect) Cool air flows in to replace rising warm air (Polar front), distributing Sun’s heat Switches direction in each latitude zone Low latitudes have trade winds (northeasterly/southeasterly) Mid-latitudes have westerlies High latitudes have polar easterlies *(named for direction they come FROM) Windless bands Doldrums @ Equator Horse Latitudes @ Tropics Coriolis Effect OCEAN CURRENTS Cold water moves from poles to Equator and warms up (cold currents), or warm water moves from Equator to poles and cools (warm currents) Currents affect the climate on land: either cooling or warming (ex: North Atlantic Drift & W. Europe) EL NIÑO Periodic change in currents & water temps. in mid-Pacific region No known cause Reversal of atmospheric pressures reduce or reverse wind patterns brings warm water from Asia to South America Domino effect: Precipitation increases, flooding in S. America Or droughts and fires in SE Asia/Australia EL NINO What it is: warming of eastern Pacific Ocean + rise in pressure changes in weather patterns throughout entire area located along the Pacific Ocean • El Nino occurred in 2014 • Supposed to be strong • Predicted: 95% chance it lasts through our winter season Powerful cyclones (hurricanes) in Northwestern Pacific More rain in North & South America but usually, lower # of hurricanes Australia: HOT weather, droughts LANDFORMS Landforms affect climates of places @ the same latitude Bodies of water moderate temps. b/c they take a long time to change temp. Gulf of MX is warm water keeps Houston warmer Continentality– absence of lg. body of water means more drastic weather changes Nebraska can have hot summers and receive snow in the winters (4 seasons instead of 2 ) Rainshadow effect Cool air releases moisture on windward side of mountain; then hot, dry air moves to leeward side creating deserts Ganges Plain in India Himalaya Arid Tibetan Plateau