Climate Change

LOOKING AHEAD

UNIT D

Climate Change

CHAPTER 9

Earth’s Climate:Out of Balance

CHAPTER 8

Earth’s ClimateSystem and

Natural Changes

CHAPTER 10

Assessing andResponding to

Climate Change

DUNIT

How Is Climate Different from Weather?

Weather - the conditions outside on a particular day, can be determined by looking outside

Climate - the usual pattern of weather in a region over a long period of time. To determine the climate in a region, you would need to study the weather for about 30 years.

Describing Weather

Meteorologists – scientists who study weather provide information about:temperatureprecipitationwind speedrelative humidity (amount water vapour in air)atmospheric pressure (force exerted by weight of air above)cloud covertoday’s weather?Current Weather - The Weather Network

1. Climate Zones – uses temp., percip., and plants to identify climate zones

Classifying Climate

Newer system of classifying climate based on:landforms, soil, plants and animalsclimatehuman factors (cities, farming practices…)

2. Ecoregions

series of graphs that show temperature and moisture conditions in a region

only describe climate can make climate projections into future Canadian Climate Impacts and Scenarios

3. Bioclimate Profiles

The following factors determine the climate for a location:

LOWER Near WaterLatitude: as you move away from the equator, the sun’s rays are

less direct. Therefore, the temperature decreases.Ocean Currents: The temperature of the ocean current affects the air

that passes over it.Winds: The prevailing winds are the established pattern of

winds. These winds move the air masses that effect our weather.

4. Climate Factors

Elevation:It gets colder as the elevation increases. As air moves up, is expands because air pressure is less. As expands, it loses heat. 1oC/100mRelief:Windward side of a mountain range is warm and wet. The leeward side of a mountain range is warm and dry.Near Water:Water has a moderating effect on temperature. In the summer, it keeps the air over it and nearby cooler. In the winter, it causes the temperatures to be warmer.