FACTORS THAT AFFECT CLIMATE (L.A.C.E.M.O.P.)
LATITUDE
 Earth-Sun Relationships
Low Latitudes
☞ Between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (includes Equator); the
“Tropics”
 Low numbers in latitude value
☞ Receive direct rays from Sun
 Equator: 6 mos. a yr.
 Each Tropic: 3 mos. a yr.
☞ Receive indirect rays from Sun
 Equator: 6 mos. a yr.
 Each Tropic: 6 mos. a yr.
☞ Warm to hot climates year round
Mid Latitudes
 Most _____________ weather on Earth
 Between ___________________________; between ________________________.
 Ranges from _______________________ (temperate), dramatic changes, but
moderate
 Summer gets __________________ from tropics, winter gets cold air from highlatitudes.
High Latitudes
 These are the _______________________ because they are the higher number in
degrees-latitude. It is cold all year.
AIR MASSES and CONVECTIONAL PRECIPITATION
☞ Air masses take on the__________________ of the place from which they came.
☞ The meeting of two air masses is called a “_________”.
☞ In addition, in warmer climates, the ______________________________ triggers
the water cycle (evaporation, then condensation, then precipitation).
☞ _______________ Precipitation:Typical of hot climates; convection occurs after
morning sun heats warm moist air. Clouds form in the afternoon and the rain falls.
☞ ________________Precipitation — when 2 fronts of different temperatures meet.
 Warm air forced upward by heavier, cool air.
 Rising warm air _______________ = precipitation--Most common type
ELEVATION
☞ ____________________ = Height above sea level (also known as altitude)
☞ As you ______________ in elevation, air cools
 At any latitude, _______________ on Earth, elevation influences climate
 If ________________ enough in elevation, you can have snow on the Equator
 As altitude ______________________, the air ___________________which
absorbs less heat, making temperature decrease
MOUNTAIN BARRIERS
 Mountains block air masses and can influence precipitation patterns.
 ________________ Precipitation: warm moist air forced upward when passing
over a mountain. Warm winds cool as they rise over the mountains and clouds form
 This can also be described as the RAIN SHADOW EFFECT!
• Air is warm and dry on the other side
• ____________: mountain side which faces the ocean
• ___________: mountain side which is in a “rain shadow” (no precipitation received)
RAIN SHADOW EFFECT
OCEAN CURRENTS
• Ocean currents help to distribute ___________.
• They carry warm water from ________________________ and return cold water
from the Poles towards the Equator.
• Winds affect the____________________ of ocean currents.
• Air masses will take on the temperature of water.
PRESSURE and wind
• Rising warm air = ____________________; Falling cool air = ________________.
• Wind moves _____________________; Movement goes from equator to poles and
back
• _______________ Effect: rotation of the earth bends the patterns of the wind
• Winds blow in constant patterns and are called __________________ winds.
Historical Fact: Many were named for the direction they blew…some were even given
names because they were used by trading ships through the region…
• _______________ -- blow from the northeast toward the Equator and from the
southeast toward the equator
• _______________ – prevailing winds in the mid-latitudes blow diagonally west to
east
• _______________ – blow diagonally in the high latitudes east to west—pushing the
cold air toward the mid latitudes
• _______________: windless area near the equator
• __________________: Historically, ships would lighten their loads in order to take
advantage of the slightest wind such as cargo, excess supplies and livestock…this
also included horses.
OTHER ISSUES (Landforms)
 Landforms affect climates of places at the ________________________.
 Bodies of water moderate temps. b/c they take a long time to change temp.
 Gulf of MX is warm water keeps Houston warmer
 ____________________– absence of lg. body of water means more drastic weather
changes
 Nebraska can have hot summers and receive snow in the winters (4 seasons
instead of 2)
Draw a map of the earth below. Label the High, Middle and Low Latitudes. Use RED for
Low Latitudes, Green for Mid Latitudes and Blue for High Latitudes.