Transcript Climate and Weather

Climate and Weather
CGF3M1
Physical Geography
Weather

All of the atmospheric
activities that occur at a
given place at a given
time
 Weather conditions
include temperature,
wind speed and
direction, humidity,
precipitation, barometric
pressure and cloud
cover
Weather



Weather is the short
term characteristics of
the atmosphere
Weather forecasts can
change over a short
period of time as a
result of changes in the
atmosphere
Refers to the day to day
changes of the
atmosphere above a
particular location
Climate

The accumulation of
daily and seasonal
weather events over a
long period of time
 Weather stations
located across the
globe collect data on an
ongoing basis.
 Weather data allows us
to see the climate
picture of a particular
location
Weather and Climate Change

Weather is something
we talk about daily
and the changes to
our climate is
something that has
not gone somewhat
unnoticed over the
past 20 years
Weather and Climate Change

It is known that the
Earth cycles through
warming and cooling
periods
 Evidence of this
trend is documented
in history (example
The Vikings)
Weather and Climate Change


Weather and Climate
have a huge impact on
our daily lives
How you dress, how
you move, where you
live, what you live in,
what you do, what we
grow, primary
industries, shaping of
history etc.
Climate Controls

The factors that
produce the climate
in any given placethe climatic controlsare the same that
produce our day-today weather
 4 basic
variables/controls
 7 different factors
Climate Controls




4 Controls
Insolation
Elevation
Proximity of water
bodies
Ocean currents






7 Factors
Latitude
Ocean Currents
Wind and air
masses
Elevation
Relief
Near water
Climate Controls
Insolation

The equator receives
direct sunlight and
therefore temperatures
are warmer
 As we move away from
the equator the suns
rays are less direct and
are spread over a larger
area.
 Colder temperatures
are a result
Climate Controls
Elevation



Elevation (altitude) is
the distance above sea
level
As elevation increases
temperature decreases
Heat energy from the
sun is absorbed by the
land, as you move away
from the heat-radiating
surface temperatures
decrease
Climate Controls
Elevation


Higher elevations
have lower air
pressure. This
contributes to the
colder temperatures
Temperatures drop
about 6.4°C for
every 1000m of
altitude
(Environmental
lapse rate)
Climate Controls
Elevation

The environmental
lapse rate is the
gradual decrease in
temperature that
occurs as one
ascends a mountain
 Varies with the
amount of pollution
and water vapour in
the air
Climate Controls
Elevation

Anomalies do occur
reguarding
temperatures in high
places
 It is possible for
valleys to
experience cooler
temperatures due to
sinking air
Climate Controls
Proximity of water bodies


Water takes longer to
warm up and cool down
than land because it
has the highest heat
capacity of any
common substance
It takes a great deal of
energy to raise the
temperature of water
Climate Controls
Proximity of water bodies



Water is translucent therefore it
absorbs sunlight
Maritime Climate: A set of
atmospheric conditions
(relatively mild winters and
relatively cool summers) that
results from proximity to a large
body of water
Continental Climate: A set of
atmospheric conditions that
result in winters that are
relatively cold and summers that
are relatively hot sue to the
absence of large water bodies
Climate Controls
Proximity of water bodies

Climate Controls
Ocean Currents

The movement of
heat energy from
the equator toward
to poles warms
some shorelines,
cools others and
influences
precipitation
patterns
Climate Controls
Ocean Currents

Ocean currents
influence the climates of
the regions adjacent to
them
 Currents flowing out of
polar regions are cold
relative to the surround
waters
 Currents flowing
outward from equatorial
regions into the midlatitudes are warm
Climate Controls
Ocean Currents
