Factors
That Affect
Climate
Weather vs. Climate
Creating Seasons
LAME COWS
Weather vs. Climate
 Weather
– condition of the
atmosphere in one
place during a short
period of time.
 Climate
– weather patterns typical
for an area over a long
period of time.
Creating Seasons
 Revolution
– Orbit around the sun
 Rotation
– Earth rotates on its axis - 24 hours – from west
to east.
 Axial Tilt
– Earth is tilted at 23 ½ ° differing the amount of
sunlight throughout the year.
Creating Seasons
 Equinox
– March 21 and September 23, suns rays on the
equator. Spring and Fall
 Solstice
– June 21, north hemisphere receives the most
sun, Dec 22 Southern hemisphere receives
most sun. Summer and Winter.
Creating Seasons
Eight Factors That Affect Climate
Continental
Latitude
Location
Air Pressure
O
cean Currents
Mountain
Barriers
Elevation
Wind Currents
Storms
Latitude
 Major change
to climate
 Change as
you move
North to South
 Equator =
direct rays =
hot
 Poles =
indirect rays =
cold
Air Pressure
 Caused by unequal
distribution of earths
heat.
 LP = warm, moist air
rises → forms clouds
→ storms.
 HP = cold dry air →
sinks → stable and
clear.
Mountain Barriers
 a.k.a. - Orographic
Precipitation
 a.k.a. – Rain Shadow
Effect
 Windward side
– Warm, moist air → up
windward side → cool
moist air drops
precipitation
 Leeward side
– Warm dry air → down
leeward side → little to
no rain.
Elevation
 How far above sea
level you are.
 Every 1,000 feet
temperature changes
3.5°F.
Continental Location
 Water heats and cools more slowly than land.
 Coastline areas have stable temperature.
 Interiors of continent have extreme temperature
changes.
Ocean Currents
 Warm-water currents equator to the poles.
 Cold water currents - poles
to the equator.
 Coriolis effect – The
currents circular patterns
are opposite of one
another due to the Earth’s
rotation.
– Northern Hemisphere –
clockwise
– Southern Hemisphere –
counter clockwise.
Wind Currents
 Air in high pressure
rushes into areas of
low pressure – this
causes wind.
 Helps to distribute
earth’s heat.
 Coriolis effect
Storms
 Clashes between
warm and cold air
masses
– Hurricanes – tropical
storms moving heat
from tropics.
– Tornadoes – powerful
funnel shaped spiraling
air.
Homework
 Read page 58 in your textbook, section
titled “The Greenhouse Effect”. (total of 6
paragraphs)
– Answer the following questions,
 Why is the earth’s atmosphere referred to as being
like a greenhouse?
 What human activities have caused there to be
high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere?
 Analyze the diagram on page 70.
– Answer questions 1-4 in complete sentences.