Unit 4, Lesson 6
Weather and Climate
Assumption College
Mathayom 1, Foundation Science
Miss Anna
Vocabulary
•
•
•
•
•
•
Weather
Climate
Latitude
Topography
Elevation
Surface currents
What determines climate?
• Weather: the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular
time and place
• Climate: describes the weather conditions over a long period
of time
• For the most part, climate is determined by temperature and
precipitation
How is the sun’s energy related
to Earth’s climate?
• The climate of an area is directly related to the amount of
energy from the sun (solar energy), which depends on latitude
• Latitude: the angular distance in degrees north and south
from the equator
• The available solar energy powers the water cycle and winds,
which affect the temperature, precipitation, and other factors
that determine the local climate
Latitude affects the amount of
Solar Energy an Area Receives
and that Area’s Climate
The Sun Powers the Water
Cycle
The Sun Powers Wind
How do Earth’s features affect
the climate?
• Topography: the surface features of an area
• Example: mountains
• Topography influences wind patterns and the transfer of energy
in an area
• An important aspect of topography is elevation
• Elevation: the height of an area above sea level
• Temperature changes as elevation changes
• Topography and elevation can affect winds and temperature
How do bodies of water affect
climate?
• Water absorbs and releases energy more slowly than land
does
• So, water helps moderate the temperature of nearby land
• Places that are inland (away from large bodies of water)
experience a wider range of temperatures than places located
near large bodies of water
How do bodies of water affect
climate?
How do ocean currents affect
climate?
• An ocean current is the movement of water in a certain
direction
• The currents on the surface of the ocean are called surface
currents
• Surface currents are driven by winds that carry warm water
away from the equator and carry cool water away from the
poles
How do ocean currents affect
climate?
What are the three major
climate zones?