w eather and c limate chapter 3. four factors or elements that affect climate are: o latitude o wind...
TRANSCRIPT
WEATHER AND CLIMATEChapter 3
Four factors or elements that affect climate are:o Latitudeo Wind Currentso Proximity to Watero Elevation
Latitude
CLIMATE ZONES Low Latitudes - Tropical Wet and Tropical Wet
and Dry. Middle Latitudes - Mediterranean, Humid
Subtropical, Humid Continental, Marine West Coast.
High Latitudes - Subarctic, Tundra, Icecap Varies - Semiarid, Arid, Highland
WIND CURRENTS
Wind and ocean currents distribute the sun’s heat through convection, the transfer of heat in the atmosphere through upward motion of the air.
AIR PRESSURE AND WINDS
Air is a fluid Warmer air is less dense Air moves from dense to less dense conditions Ex.: Land-sea breezes
Warmer air “holds” more water Low pressure=warm air=precipitation High pressure=cold air=dry air
WEATHER FRONTS
Front: the boundary that separates two air masses of different temperatures.
Precipitation often occurs along these fronts
PROXIMITY TO WATER
Areas near the ocean have a milder winter and a cooler summer.
Ocean currents are like rivers in the ocean. Warm water flows away from the equator and cold water flows toward the equator.
OCEAN CURRENTS
Follow same circular pattern (driven by wind)
Warm currents flow away from equator, pile up on
eastern shores ex. Gulf Stream
Cold currents flow towards equator, cause upwelling
PROXIMITY TO WATER
One important ocean current is:o The North Atlantic Drift - This ocean
current warms Western Europe.
ELEVATION
Elevation influences temperature. As you go up in elevation the temperature becomes colder because the atmosphere is thinner. Areas with very high elevations can have vegetation similar to the arctic.
Ms. Frizzle explains…
On the windward side of a mountain the orographic effect leads to more precipitation
On the leeward side of a mountain, the rain shadow effect leads to less precipitation and warmer temperatures. They are often deserts.