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Unit 6 Chapter 22 Climate
Section 1 Factors that Affect Climate
Climate –
____________________________________________. It is the
overall weather conditions of an environment. It will depend mainly
on Temperature & Rainfall. Other factors that affect the climate are
the hours of sunlight; duration, speed and steadiness of the wind and
whether the area has severe weather.
Temperature and Precipitation
It is usually described as the average temperature and precipitation.
To get the average temp or precip, you must add the high(s) and
low(s) and divide by two.
Average Temperature
_______ Highs and Lows
_______ – daily averages averaged together
________ – Monthly averages averaged together
Temperature Range –
The number of degrees from the warmest temperature
to the coldest for an area.
NYC –
high 99o
average 52o
Low 10o
range 89
o
Chicago
High 110
average 55o
Low 0o
range 110o
Rainfall – how much precipitation an area receives
Seattle – rains most days – 40” of rain per year; light and steady
NY – approx. 50” per year -Clear most days; changes quickly to
heavy storms
Latitude
This is a factor because different areas receive different amounts of
solar energy, at different times.
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TEMPERATURE
PRECIPITATION
Latitude
Colder at the poles
Elevation
Nearby Water
Colder at high altitudes
Near water the temp
changes are small so
coastal areas have small
range too
Warm ocean currents,
warm by coast; cold
currents, cool by coast
Leeward side is warmer.
Mountains can act as
barriers to air masses
May determine whether air
masses arrive from hot or
cold regions
Can control how much
insolation is absorbed and
how quickly it is heated
Low pressure areas have rain
(ITCZ & mid lats.)
No rain at poles & horse lats.
Higher elevations, less water
Precip most likely downwind of
large bodies of water
Ocean Currents
Topography
Prevailing Winds
Vegetation
Solar Energy
Some currents cause fog
Windward side is wetter.
Mountains can act as barriers to
masses
May determine whether air
masses arrive from hot or cold
regions
Releases water vapor into the
air
Latitude –
________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Global Wind Patterns
Where the wind belts come together, _____________________.
Where the wind belts drift apart, _________________________.
Heat Absorption and Balance
The land will warm up faster and lose the heat faster. The oceans
will take a longer time to heat up and cool down. This has a great
effect on the climate of the area.
______________________________
Different objects have a different specific heat. Land
(granite) has a lower specific heat than the oceans (liquid
water). This creates areas that are heated differently.
_____________________________
The temperature of the current that comes into contact of the land
will affect the climate. Warm currents will make an area temperate,
while colder currents can make an area cooler than inland.
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__________________________________
This is a cycle of the changing patterns of the wind and water
currents in the Pacific Ocean. It occurs every 3-10 years. It is the
warm water phase of the ENSO which causes the surface water
temperatures to rise. It is followed by an increase in the occurrence
of typhoons, cyclones and floods in the area. In Indonesia and Asia
severe droughts can occur.
La Niña is the cool water phase of the ENSO. This can cause
an increase of hurricanes in the Atlantic.
______________________________
Because of the uneven heating of the land and water during seasonal
changes, they create seasonal winds. A monsoon is one such
seasonal wind. A monsoon is a wind that blows toward the land in
summer. It brings heavy rains during the summer months.
Topography
Altitude –
Height above sea level
The closer to the sea, the warmer the climate
The higher the elevation, the cooler the climate
Areas that receive the most precipitation are the ones where there is
warm, moist air rising in large quantities.
Ex.
1. Florida- daily thunderstorms
2. Atlantic Coast – storm areas including hurricanes
3. Mountainous areas
_________________________
The height above sea level will produce distinct temperature
changes. As you go up in elevation, the temperature goes down.
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__________________________
As air rises it cools condensation occurs, clouds form the water
droplets grow and gravity pulls them down in the form of rain. The
windward side is cool and moist.
As the air continues its journey down the back side of the slope, it
becomes warm and dry. The probability of precipitation goes down.
The leeward side is warm and dry.
Foehn – flows down the Alps
Chinooks – flow down the Rocky Mountains
Section 2 Climate Zones
The Earth has three main climate zones: they are Topical, Middlelatitude, and Polar. These zones are effected by the amount of
precipitation in each areas.
______________________________
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___________________________________
_________________________________
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___________________________
Microclimates are the climates of small areas. They are influenced by
vegetation, elevation and proximity to water. Long Island has a
microclimate.
Heat Island
A heat island is created when a cities pavement and buildings
absorbs radiation and reradiates it as heat.
____________________________
Highland Climates
This is mountainous regions. The climate will be effected by the
height above sea level.
__________________________________
The water will keep us temperate. Warmer winters because it takes
all winter to cool down the water; Cooler summers because it takes
all summer to heat up.
Section 3 Climate Change
Climatologist
A climatologist is a scientist that studies the climate.
Studying Climate Changes
Modeling Climates
Computers are generally used for this because variables can change
often.
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Potential Causes of Climate Change
By studying computer based models, climatologists have determined
that there are a few potential causes to climate changes.
Plate Tectonics
The change in position of the continents has changed the wind and
water current patterns. Land masses lower the air temperatures due
to more snow reflecting the sunlight, not absorbing it. There are also
areas that did not have land, that have it now.
Orbital Changes
Milankovitch Theory
Human Activity
Humans can affect the climate through deforestation and the burning
of fossil fuels. They both add to the amounts of CO2 in to the
atmosphere which is causing Global Warming.
Volcanic Activity
Volcanoes not only increase in the dust in the air but it also increases
the greenhouse gases (CO2 & H20) which will lower the temperature.
Sun Spot Activity
Sun spots – areas of intense heat on the surface, therefore a lot of
sun spots, and a lot of heat. Around 1400 – 1800 there was
almost no sun spots which gave us about ¼ the energy from
the sun, cooler climate, glaciers grew
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Potential Impacts of Climate Change
Because everything is so intertwined and dependant, when one
variable (climate) changes, it can influence other areas.
Global Warming
Global warming is the gradual increase in the average global
temperature. This is usually associated with an increase in the
greenhouse gases. This creates an increase in temperatures in areas
that will increase evaporation, causing droughts. It can also raise
temperatures in areas that usually have ice and snow, causing
significant melting and flooding. The average global temperatures
have increased by 1o C since the 1800’s. It is possible that this is
occurring naturally.
Possible side effects:
Rising sea levels due to melting polar ice caps
Increasing frequency & severity of storms and hurricanes
More frequent heat waves and droughts
Relocation of major crops due to the change in growing areas
Sea-Level Changes
The melting of the polar ice caps can bring about a rise in sea level
due to the addition of water and by the thermal expansion of the
water itself. This can submerge coastlines.
What Humans Can Do
Many countries are working together to reduce Global Warming
Individual Efforts
A few ideas could be reduce Carbon Dioxide, use electricity sparingly,
don’t use throw away products, and recycle. There are many more
ways to do this
Transportation Solutions
Use public transportation, use electric cars or fuel efficient ones,
walk, bike, etc.