Weather and climate
Earth’s Atmosphere
• The air is a mixture of gases, Nitrogen, Oxygen
and trace gases.
• Microorganisms produce the gases.
• The theory is that over time the atmosphere
developed into the air we now breath.
Heating (energy in) the Atmosphere
Wind
• Winds are caused by differences in air
pressure
• Local Winds: are caused by unequal heating of
the earth’s surface in a small area.
http://www.vivoscuola.it/us/rsigpp3202/umidita/lezioni/form.htm
Cloud formation
Water in the Atmosphere
Climates
• Two things determine a regions climate:
• Temperature and Precipitation
Temperature
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Latitude
Distance from large bodies of water
Ocean currents
altitude
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Precipitation
Latitude
Distribution of air pressure systems
Global winds
Mountain barriers
http://mycozynook.
com/102RGCh34OH.
htm
El Nino
• Warming of water in central and eastern
Pacific Ocean
• A current of water moves west
• Causes a different weather pattern