Meteorology
Chapter 21
21.1 What is Climate?
While You Read
List climate characteristics and control
factors in the appropriate box.
Climate Characteristics Climate Controls
Temperature; precipitation;
days/hours of sunlight;
wind direction, speed, and
steadiness; frequency of
severe weather.
Latitude; elevation;
nearby water; ocean
currents; topography;
prevailing winds;
vegetation
21.1 After You Read
1.
Explain the difference between daily
and
annual temperature ranges.
Daily temperature ranges reflect
difference between high and low on a
given day while annual ranges contrast
high and low monthly temperatures in a
year.
21.1 After You Read
2. Choose two climate control factors
and explain their impact on both
temperature
and precipitation.
Higher elevations lead to colder
temperatures and less precipitation.
Ocean currents cool or warm nearby
coasts, depending on their
temperature. They can also cause
fog.
21.1 After You Read
3. Which climate control factor do you think
has the most impact on Seattle,
Washington? How about Denver,
Colorado? Explain.
In Seattle, nearby water probably has the most
impact, creating a mild climate and regular
precipitation. In Denver, elevation and
topography might have strong impacts, with
the first causing cooler temperatures and
the second moderating those cool
temperatures and minimizing precipitation.
21.2 Climate Zones
While You Read
Polar
Dry
a) Sub climates
Tundra, icecap
b) Location
At poles
a)Sub climates
Desert, semiarid
b) Location
Leeward side of mountains,
horse latitudes
c) Features
c) Features
Little precipitation, minimal or High temps. With cold nights,
evaporation exceeds precipitation,
no vegetation
plant and animal life adapted to
dryness
Humid Tropical
Moist mid-latitude
a) Sub climates
Tropical wet; tropical wet/dry
a)Sub climates
Severe winters; humid
continental, sub-arctic/mild
winters; humid subtropical,
marine west coast,
Mediterranean
b) Location
Close to equator and in ITCZ
b) Location
Severe winters: interiors and eastern
coasts of continents, close to poles;
mild winters: along water at edges of
continents
c) Features
Hot/rainy year round; hot with
wet and dry seasons; tropical
rain forests and grasslands
c) Features: severe winters: cold
winters, hot/humid summers except in
sub-arctic; mild winters: hot, muggy or
cool summers depending on coastal
position, and mild winters with mostly
rain.
21.2 After You Read
Describe the Highland climate zone and
explain how it is different from the other main
zones.
The Highland climate zone occurs in
mountainous areas and its features vary with
the influence of latitude and elevation. It
differs from the other zones within the same
general location.
21.3 Climate Change
While You Read
1. Earth’s motions
2. Plate tectonics
Changes in the shape
of Earth’s orbit, the tilt
of its axis, and the axis
of its rotation affect the
intensity of the
seasons.
Changes in continent
position affect wind
patterns, ocean
currents, and solar
radiation absorption,
creating global cooling
21.3 Climate Change
While You Read
3. Sunspots
Changes in sunspots on
the Sun’s surface alter the
amount of solar energy
reaching the Earth.
4. Volcanoes
Individual eruptions can
cool temperatures by
blocking solar energy with
their debris, but repeated
or extensive eruptions
can warm temperatures
by raising atmospheric
carbon dioxide.
21.3 Climate Change
While You Read
5. Human activities
Deforestation and
fossil fuel burning
increase carbon
dioxide levels and
warm temperatures.
21.3 Climate Change
After You Read
List and describe a method that scientists use
to study climate changes.
Changes in sea-floor sediments indicate
changes in water temperature and degree of
glaciation over time. Changes in the oxygen
features of glacial ice indicate variations in
temperature during formation. Number of
growth rings indicates age of trees and likely
climate conditions each year.