Name ____________________________
Date _______________
Period _____________
What Factors Affect the Climate of an Imaginary Continent?
Continent X
Climate involves an average of weather conditions for a large geographical region over a long period of
time. It is described by averages, ranges and daily and seasonal variations for factors such as rainfall, winds and
temperature. The great number of possible combinations of factors for different parts of the world makes the
classification of climates very complicated.
Climate can be described in terms of average temperature (hot, temperate or cold from hottest to coldest)
and humidity (humid, sub-humid, semi-arid or arid from most humid to most dry). In this investigation you will
analyze a model “Continent X” by stuyding the basic and modifying factors that contribute to its climates.
Procedure I
1. Read pages 490-493 to become familar with the factors that influence climate.
2. Lightly shade the world map RED between 23.5° N and 23.5° S.
3. Lightly shade the areas North and South of 66.5° N and 66.5° S BLUE.
4. Lightly shade the remaining two sections YELLOW.
5. Using figure 1 from page 490, label the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer.
6. Create a key to indicate the names of the zones you just colored.
7. Label Global wind pattersn (tradewinds, westerlies and polar easterlies)
8. Label the convetion cells (Hadley, Ferrel and Polar)
Name ____________________________
Date _______________
Period _____________
Procedure II
See page 493
1.Draw a diagram to show the windward and leeward sides of a mountain.
2. Label each side.
3. Explain what is happening on each side of the mountain.
First, A Few Review Questions...
1. As latitude increases, temperature _____________________.
2. As altitude increases, temperature ___________________.
3. Locations that are near large bodies of water tend to have ______________ summers and ___________
winters than locations that are inland.
4. Describe what happens to air as it rises (as it may over a mountain range):
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
5. Describe what happens to air as it sinks (as it may on the leeward side of a mountain range):
6. The following latitudes are places of rising air, and low pressure: _____________________ (polar or tropics)
7. The following latitudes are places of sinking air, and high pressure: ______________________(polar or
tropics)
8. Low pressure is associated with ___________________________ weather conditions, while high pressure is
associated with ____________________________ weather conditions.
Procedure III
While an area’s climate can be the product of several factors, usually only one or two exert a major
influence. In this activity you will identify factors from those listed below that are primarily responsible
for producing the climate for selected locations.
Examine the geographic locations of cities A through F. Some of the factors you will need to consider
include each one’s:
• Latitude (since that affects how much total sunlight they receive); N or S of Equator
• Interior or Coast-proximity to an ocean (since coastal cities tend to have a more moderate climate than
those that are inland); wetter and warmer in winter and cooler in summer than inland areas
•Altitude elevation above sea level (because higher altitude cities will experience overall cooler temperatures);
higher altitudes are colder than sea level
• Planetary Wind Belt (since where weather systems come from affects local climate);
Ocean Currents-warm currents warm land regions. Cold cool land
• Topography position relative to mountains (since those cities of the leeward side of mountain ranges will
Name ____________________________
Date _______________
Period _____________
have drier/warmer conditions than those on the windward side).
Factors that Influence Climate
Temperature
1. Latitude-As latitude increases, the average
yearly temperature decreases.
2. Nearness to centers of large landmassesLocations near the center of a large landmass
tend to have wide ranges in temperatures both
between day and night and seasonally.
3. Nearness to large bodies of water-Large
bodies of water have a moderating effect on
the temperature of coastal areas producing
low ranges in temperature both between day
and night and seasonally.
4. Location relative to large mountain rangesWindward sides of mountain ranges are
cooled while leeward sides are warmed.
5. Altitude (height above sea level)-As altitude
increases, the average yearly temperature
decreases.
6. Ocean Currents-Ocean currents tend to
warm temperatures of eastern coastal areas
and cool temperatures of western coastal
areas.
Precipitation
1. Latitude-Belts of low pressure centered at
latitudes at 0° and 60°North and South produce
generally heavy precipitation. Belts of high
pressure centered at latitudes 30° North and South
produce dry climates; sometimes even deserts.
2. Nearness to centers of large landmassesLocations near the center of a large landmass
tend to have dry climates.
3. Nearness to large bodies of water-Areas
near large bodies of water tend to have higher
than average precipitation especially areas on
the leeward side of the water.
4. Location relative to large mountain rangesWindward sides of mountains tend to receive
higher than average precipitation while
leeward sides receive lower than average
precipitation.
5. Prevailing Wind Direction-Wind direction
determines the windward and leeward sides of
both mountain ranges and large bodies of
water.
Using the table of factors that influence climate and the information below, answer the following
questions, which refer to the diagram. The diagram represents an imaginary continent on earth that is
surrounded by water. The arrows indicated the direction of the prevailing winds. Two large mountain
ranges are also indicated. Points A, B and E are located at sea level; C and D are in the foothills of the
mountains and F is high in the mountains.
1. What factor would cause location F to have a colder yearly climate than any other location? Explain
your answer.
2. What 3 factors would cause location E to have the greatest annual rainfall?
3. Which location, C or D, would you expect to have the greater annual rainfall? Explain your answer.
Name ____________________________
Date _______________
Period _____________
4. Which location, A or B, would you expect to have the greater range in temperature during the year?
Explain your answer.
5. Location A is in the center of a large desert. What factor could account for its low annual precipitation?
6. What 2 factors would cause the climate at location D to be cooler that at location E?