Try to describe all the things this
comic is trying to explain.
Aim: How is climate affected?
 Topic:
Water Cycle and Climate ( Unit 7)
 Main Idea: Factors Affecting Climate
1) How is climate different from
weather?
 Climate
is the long term condition of an area while
weather changes quickly.
2) Factors Affecting Climate
 Latitude
 Altitude
 Large
bodies of
water
 Mountain ranges
 Ocean
Currents/Prevailing
Winds
 El Niño/La Niña
 As
latitude
increases, the
temperature
decreases.
Latitude
 As
Altitude
altitude increases, climate temperature
decreases.
What temperature differences do you notice about these
locations?
Large Bodies of Water
 Since
water takes a
long time to heat up
and cool off (high
specific heat) we
have cool summers
and warm winters.
Mountain Ranges
 Orographic
effect: mountains make rain shadows
so one side becomes a desert.
Ocean Currents/Prevailing Winds
 Warm
currents bring warm air and cool currents
bring cool air.
El Niño
Warmer than normal
surface ocean water off
the west coast of S.
America.
 Every 3-7 years
 Wet winters, droughts,
flooding, and heat
waves

Summary:
1)
2)
Name three currents found at 50 N
latitude:
Why is Long Island a better place to
live than Missouri?
If you live inland, surrounded by land, what
will your summers and winters be like? Why?
 Land
has a low specific heat so it heats up and
cools off fast, so there are warm summers and cold
winters.