The 7 Influences of Climate

Climate Patterns

Climate-vegetation Vegetation-climate.

Soil does matter.

Plants –slow winds, absorb water, absorb heat

Slow down surface winds, stop soil erosion

Capture precipitation making it more humid

Thick vegetation will cool the air during the day and warm air at night

Dense forest – more humid, temperatures more moderate

Vegetation

Prevailing WindsDirection In U.S. winds blow west to east

California gets winds from the ocean- more consistent

New York inland – less consistent

Continuous movement of ocean water –Conveyor belt of temperatures

Gulf Stream –West Africa-Florida-Northern Europe.

Ocean Currents

Rain Shadow

Rain shadow causes rain barrier creating “Rain Shadow”

Mountain Ranges

Equator= 0 degrees Poles= 90 degrees.

23.5 N Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 S Capricorn between very little temperature change all year round.

23.5-60- Temperate warm-hot summers; cool-cold winters

60-90 Polar

Latitude

Air rises and expands and becomes cooler as it goes higher in the atmosphere.

About 4 degrees cooler for each 1000 ft. of elevation

Mt. Kilimanjaro has snow all year but at 3.07 latitude

Elevation

Water moderates temperature

Maritime climates effected by large bodies of water- more moderate temperatures

Continental climates not close to large bodies of water-temperature more extreme

Maritime more humid

Large Bodies of Water

Vegetation

Prevailing Winds

Ocean Currents

Mountain Ranges

Latitude

Elevation

Large Bodies of Water

Climate Patterns