CLIMATE
What is Climate?
Climate - the weather conditions
prevailing in an area in general over a
long period
Climate Zones
Climate BrainPOP
 Tundra
 Rain Forest
 Desert
 Deciduous Forest
Factors Affecting
Climate
Temperature Factors
1. Latitude
• Average Yearly Temperature
• Yearly Temperature Range
2. Altitude
3. Ocean Currents
4. Marine Vs. Continental
Rainfall Factors
1. Latitude
2. Mountains - Orographic Precipitation
Latitude - Average Yearly Temperature
• The area that receives the
• As latitude increases,
average yearly
most direct rays of the Sun
temperatures decreases
(equator, 0°) will have the
highest yearly
temperatures.
Avg.
• The area that receives
the least direct rays of
the sun (poles, 90°) will
have the lowest yearly
temperatures.
Yearly
Temp.
90 °
0°
Latitude
Latitude - Yearly Temperature
Range
• Equatorial areas receive the direct rays of the Sun for most of the
year. Therefore, the yearly temperature does not change much.
Temperature
Low Latitudes
Mid Latitudes
High Latitudes
JFMAMJJASOND
Month
Latitude - Yearly Temperature
Range
Yearly
Temperature
Range
• As latitude increases, yearly temperature range
increases
90 °
0°
Latitude
Altitude - Average Yearly
Temperature Range
• Altitude - the height of an object above sea level.
Low average yearly
temperature range
High average yearly
temperature range
Altitude - Average Yearly
Temperature
Average
Yearly
Temperature
• As altitude increases, average yearly temperature
decreases
Altitude
Ocean Currents
• Ocean currents move warm water from
the equator towards the poles.
• Ocean currents move cold water from
the poles back to the equator to be
heated again. (pg. _4_ of ESRT)
Animation
Ocean Currents
Marine vs. Continental
• Sea or land locations affects temperature
ranges. Since land gains and loses heat much
more quickly than water, land areas tend to have
warmer summers and cooler winters. Coastal
areas near the ocean have cooler summers and
milder/warmer winters.
• Coastal areas have marine climates with a small
yearly temperature range and areas inland have
continental climates with a larger yearly
temperature range
Marine Vs. Continental
This graph shows the average
monthly temperatures for two
cities, A and B, which are both
located at 41ºN latitude.
Why is there a difference in the
average yearly temperature range
for the two cities?
• Because City A is located
inland (continental) and City B
 Interactive Climate Map is located near water (marine)
Rainfall Factors - Latitude
• Uneven heating of the
Earth produces global
wind & pressure belts.
These belts determine
the wetness or dryness
of an area.
• Low Pressure - rising
air creates precipitation
• High Pressure - sinking
air creates a lack of
precipitation
Animation
Latitude Continued
 What latitudes are areas of low
pressure?
0°, 60°N, 60°S
 What is the climate like there?
High rainfall
 What latitudes are areas of high
pressure? 30°N, 30°S, 90°N, 90°S
 What is the climate like there?
Low rainfall
Orographic Precipitation
WINDWARD
Windward
4.Condenses
5. Precipitation
3. Cools
rises 2. Expands
1. Rises
Warm air
Humid/Moist
LEEWARD
6. Sinks
7. Compresses
8. Warms
Arid/Dry
Windward Vs. Leeward
• Rainfall occurs on the windward side of the
mountain where the air is rising.
• Cool & Wet
• It is dry on the leeward side of
the mountain where the air is sinking.
• Warm & Dry
Orographic Precipitation Video
El Nino
• A warming of the surface water of the eastern
and central Pacific Ocean, occurring every 4 to
12 years and causing unusual global weather
patterns.
• El Nino brings heavy rain to western South
American and drought to eastern Australia and
Indonesia.
Animation
El Nino Video
Lake Effect Snow
• The air moving over
the water needs to be
cooler than the water.
• The surface of the
lake can’t be frozen
Lake Effect Snow
• Water begins evaporating
off of the surface of the
lake into the air.
• Fetch - distance over open
water
• The greater distance the
wind blows over the warm
water, the greater the
convection /evaporation.
Lake Effect Snow
CLOUD FORMATION
CONDENSES
COOL
EXPAND
RISE
Warm air over water begins
to
Lake Effect Snow
 In some localities,
wind blowing from a
lake onshore is
forced to climb up
hills creating the
orographic effect
Lake Effect Snow Video
Areas Affected by Lake
Effect