What causes Climate? - Notes
Two main factors
that causes
Climate
Weather: The _________ of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular _____and _____ place.
Climate: The __________, year after year, conditions of temperature, precipitation,
winds and clouds in an area.
Microclimates: Climate conditions within a_______ _______that differ from those in
the surrounding area.
Examples: parks, cities, areas near lakes or ponds, gardens, etc.
________________ (cold or warm climate)
___________________ (dry or humid climate
Factors Affecting
Temperature
___________, ___________, Distance From Large _______ of _______, and _________
Currents
Latitude
The ____________ in ___________ north or south of the equator.
Based on latitude Earth’s surface can be divided into 3 Temperature Zones
Tropical Zones: ________climates
Temperate Zones: ranging _________________
Polar Zones: _________ climates
Temperature
Zone of Earth
____________ zone, ___________zone and _________ zone
Altitude
It is ____________ above sea level.
High land areas have cooler climates.
For example: Mt. Kilimanjaro, in East Africa is covered with snow all year round
although it is near equator (3 degrees south latitude.
Higher altitudes = cooler temperatures
Lower altitudes = warmer temperatures
Distance From
Large Bodies of
Water
Marine Climates: warmer winters and cooler summers
Where? Much of the west coast of North America, South America, and Europe.
Continental Climates: colder winters and warmer summers (extreme temperatures)
Where? Most of Canada and Russia, Central United States.
Ocean Currents
Streams of water within the oceans that move in regular patterns.
Oceans and lakes can affect temperatures / climate
3 examples: Gulf Stream (warm water currents), North Atlantic Drift (brings milder
and humid air to Ireland and Southern England) , California Current (cool water
current)
What causes Climate? - Notes
Major Ocean
Surface Currents
Factors Affecting
Precipitation
Prevailing Winds
Presence of Mountain Ranges
Seasonal Winds
Prevailing Winds
It is the ____________ of air masses caused by _____________winds in a region
The amount of ________ _______ in an air mass influences how much rain or snow
will fall.
The amount of water vapor in the _________ wind depends on where the wind comes
from.
Mountain Ranges
Air forced up the mountain _______, _____________, and ________ clouds
Falls as precipitation on __________ side (The side of the mountain that faces the
wind).
___________ side (the side of the mountain range that faces away from the oncoming
wind) of mountain has drier conditions.
Seasonal Winds
Similar to ______or ______breezes, but occurs over ________ area.
___________ are type of seasonal winds.
Monsoons: Sea or land breeze over a large region that changes _________ with the
___________.
Thailand and part of India get most of the rain from the ________ monsoons.
The __________ monsoons winds brings very little rain to same regions.