Climate
What is Climate?
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Factors that Affect Climate
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Factor #1: Latitude
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As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases
Three Zones
– Zone 1: ________________
• Region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS)
• Warm Year Round
– Zone 2: _________________
• Region between 23.5ºN/S and 66.5ºN/s of the equator
• Hot Summers
• Cold Winters
– Zone 3: ________________
• Region from 66.5ºN/S of the equator to the poles
• Very cold temperature year round
Factor #2: _______________
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Higher the elevation is, the colder the climate
Elevation determines amount of precipitation it receive
Factor #3: ________________
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Land features affect amount of precipitation that falls over an area
Mountains cause a rain shadow event
– One side has cool, wet air
– One side has warm, dry air
Factor #4: ________________
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Large bodies of water (lakes & oceans) have an important effect on the temperature of an area.
Temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above.
Factor #5: ________________
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Winds distribute heat and moisture around the Earth
Warm air moves to the poles
Cold air moves to the equator
Factor #6: ________________
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Affects both temperature and precipitation
Temperature
– Influence how much of the sun’s energy is absorbed and how quickly it is released
Precipitation
– When plants release water vapor from its leaves into the air (transpiration)
Köppen Climate Classification System
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Most commonly used system
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Five Principal Groups
– ___________________
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Humid Tropical Climate
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Monthly average temperature above 18ºC (64.4ºF)
Precipitation can exceed 200-cm
Two Types
– ______________________
• High Temperature
• High annual precipitation
– ______________________
• High Temperature
• High annual precipitation
• Experiences distinct periods of low precipitation
Humid Mid-Latitude Climate with Mild Winters
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Mild winters with an average temperature in the coldest month that is below 18ºC (64.4ºF) but above 3ºC (26.6ºF)
Three Types
– ________________________
• Between 25º and 40º latitude on the eastern side of the continent
• Summer = hot, sultry
• Winter = wild
• NC climate
– _________________________
• Between 30º & 45º latitude
• Strong winter rainfall
• Only found in California
– _________________________
• Between 40º and 65º N/S on the coastal area
• Summer = cool
• Winter = mild
• Northern California to Southern Alaska
Humid Mid-Latitude with Severe Winters
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Severe winters have an average temperature in the coldest month that is below -3ºC (26.6ºF)
Two Types
– ___________________________
– ______________________
• Not in the Southern Hemisphere
• Winters are long and bitterly cold
• Between 40º and 50º N latitude
• Summers are warm and very
short
• Winters = Severe
• The highest annual temperature
• Summer = warm and great
precipitation
range on Earth
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Yearly precipitation is not as great as the potential loss of water by evaporation
Two Types
– _______________________
– _______________________
• Transition zone that surrounds the desert and separates it from humid climates
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Cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations
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Average temperature of the warmest month is below 10ºC (50ºF)
Little precipitation falls
Winters = extremely cold
Summer = cool
Two Types
– ___________________
• Treeless region found almost
– ________________________
exclusively in the Northern
• Monthly average temperature
Hemisphere
below 0ºC (32ºF)
• Plant life of mosses, shrubs and
• Covered with permanent ice and
flowering herbs
snow
Natural Process that Change Climate
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Volcanic Eruption
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The presence of volcanic ash, dust and aerosols in the air increase the amount of solar radiation that is
reflected back into space.
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Ocean Circulation
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– Causes parts of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to become warmer than usual
– Arid places receive large amounts of rain
– Places that receive lots of rain may experience dry periods
– HERE? We have wet summers
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– Surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific are colder than average
– Hurricanes damage greater in La Nina times
– HERE? We have dry summers
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Formation of sunspots appear to correspond with warm periods in Europe and North America
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Orbit and Tilt
– Earth’s tilt causes the seasons
– Change in the degree of tilt or shape of orbit could cause global climate changes
Human Impact on Climate Change
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– Is a natural warming of both Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface
– Makes life as we know it possible
– Major Gases: ___________________________________
– Humans have added more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere in the pass 200 years by burning
fossil fuels
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As a result of increases in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as well as other greenhouse gases, global temperatures
have increased
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Temperatures Rising due to Global Warming
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Effects
– Glaciers melting
– Greenland—______________________________________
– Antarctic—_______________________________________
– Permafrost in Tundra is releasing CO2 that is stored under the ice
Hottest Years
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Since 1980, the Earth has had 19 of its 20 hottest years on record
1. 2010
3. 2009
5. 2006
2. 2005
4. 2007
6. 1998
Antarctica Melting
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7. 2002
8. 2003
9. 2001
10. 1997