GC #___
Climate Controls PowerPoint Notes
Integrated Science 2
Name:
Per.
I. The Significance of Climate and Biomes
A. What is the difference between climate and weather?
1. Climate: The __________________, year after year conditions in a particular region
2. Weather: The condition of the ___________________ at a certain time and place.
3. Both climate and weather are measured in terms of _______________________, wind speed,
humidity, ______________________, precipitation and other variables.
B. What is a biome?
1. Biomes are areas that are similar in _________________ and other physical factors.
2. These areas tend to develop similar communities of ____________________ and animals
Powered by the ___________, the climate system is a complex exchange of
energy and _____________ among Earth’s atmosphere.
II. Global Climate Controls – LETWAV
L = ___________________________
E = _____________________________
T = ___________________________
W = ____________________________
A = ___________________________
V = _____________________________
A. Latitude
1. Because the Earth tilts on its _____________, and because the earth is _____________________
the Sun’s rays strike the Earth at different angles
a. As a result, different parts of Earth receive different amounts of solar ______________
3. The ___________________ receive the most solar radiation because the sun’s rays strike almost
_____________________. Temperatures in the tropics are _______________ year-round.
4. The _____________________ zones have ____________________ conditions.
5. The _____________________ zones receive the least radiation because the sun’s rays strike at a
very _______________ angle. Temperatures in polar regions are usually _________________.
B. Elevation
1. Elevation is the height above ______________________.
2. On average, air temperature drops about _______________ for every 1000 m of altitude.
3. The higher the elevation, the ________________ the climate
C. Topography
1. Climates often differ on either side of a ______________________.
a. As air rises over a mountain, it __________________. As it cools, it _________________,
and releases moisture (rain). This is called the ___________________ side.
b. As the dry air flows over the mountain, it ___________________ and warms, usually
producing deserts. This is called the ____________________ side.
2. Deserts such as the Atacama in Chile are common on ________________________ sides of
mountains
3. The dry area is called a ______________________ and can extend for hundreds of km
downwind of a mountain range.
D. Water Bodies
1. Land gains and loses heat much _________________ than water
2. The temperature of a large body of water can influence the _______________ of the air above it.
3. Based on other factors certain areas close to _________________ bodies of water may have a
relatively ______________ yearly temperature range.
a. example: The California coast vs the interior of California
4. Continental __________________ have large yearly temperature ranges
5. Dry air gains and loses _________________ much faster than humid air, so ________________
have large daily temperature ranges.
Water Bodies (Continued)
1. Ocean __________________ can warm or cool the air above
2. Ocean currently may be considerably warmer or cooler than the normal air _________________
for that latitude.
E. Atmospheric Circulation
1. Solar energy and earth’s ________________________ create motion in the atmosphere called
planetary winds.
2. There are _______________ basic wind systems in each hemisphere, Polar Easterlies, Northeast
or Southeast ________________________, and Prevailing ___________________.
3. These winds blow air masses with distinct regions of ______________ (ie: formed over land or
water, formed at certain _________________)
4. Winds move warm air ________________ the poles and cool air toward the ________________
These belts shift seasonally as the earth spins on it’s ____________ and different
latitudes receive direct ________________.
In the Northern Hemisphere, belts shift northwards in the ______________, and
southwards in the winter.
F. Vegetation
1. Vegetation influences how much of the sun’s energy is ______________________ and
how quickly this energy is released, which affects the climate.
2. During _______________________ , plants release water vapor from their leaves into the air.
3. Some plants release particles that promote the formation of ________________.
4. Large areas of ______________________ mimic large bodies of water.
Application
Patagonia, Chile ____________________________ San Francisco _____________________________
Denver, Colorado ___________________________ Carson City, Nevada ______________________