Climate

What is the difference between Climate and Weather?

• "Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get"

• Weather- the current condition of the atmosphere in a given time or place

• Climate- weather conditions in a geographic region over a long period of time.

Climate characteristics

• Temperature

• Precipitation

• Wind

Factors Affecting Climate

• Elevation

• Latitude

• Wind

• Proximity to Water

Factors Affecting Climate: Elevation

Factors Affecting Climate: Elevation

Latitude Zones

• Places along the same degree of latitude often have similar climates.

• Richmond is at 37 degrees N. Find five cities around the world that are close to 37 degrees N.

• Low latitudes • Middle latitudes• High latitudes

Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Antarctic Circle

Arctic Circle

Graphic created by EJoyce

Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Antarctic Circle

Arctic CircleHIGH

LOW

HIGH

MIDDLE

MIDDLE

90

90

0

23 1/2

23 1/2

66 1/2

66 1/2

Graphic created by EJoyce

Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Antarctic Circle

Arctic Circle

HIGH

HIGH

MIDDLE

MIDDLE

90 S

90 N

0

23 ½ N

23 ½ S

66 ½ N

66 ½ S

LOW

North Pole

South PoleGraphic created by EJoyce

Climate Zones

Low latitudes

Low latitudes

• Climate Zone extending from:

• Tropic of Cancer (23.5 N) through the Equator (0) to the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 S)

• Hot

• This area of the world receives the most direct sunlight

Climate zones in low latitudes: Tropical Wet

What are the characteristics of a Tropical Wet climate?

Climate zones in low latitudes: Tropical Wet and Dry

Climate zones in low latitudes: Arid

Climate zones in low latitudes: Semiarid

Middle Latitudes

• From Tropics to Arctic and Antarctic Circles

• Distinct seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)

• Climate varies depending on time of year

• United States, Europe, much of Asia

Climate zones in middle latitudes: Mediterranean

Climate zones in middle latitudes: Marine West Coast

Climate zones in middle latitudes: Humid Subtropical

Climate zones in middle latitudes: Highland

Climate zones in middle latitudes: Arid

• Can an arid climate contain a desert that is cold?

High Latitudes

• From the circles to the poles

• Least amount of direct sunlight

• Cold!

Climate Zones in high latitudes: Subartic

Climate zones in high latitudes: Tundra

Climate zones in high latitudes: Icecap

Factors Affecting Climate: Wind

Factors Affecting Climate: Wind

• Winds are created by unequal heating of the atmosphere.

• Because climate regions have different temperature patterns, their prevailing winds differ.

• Prevailing winds- the wind that blows most often in an area, usually identified by the direction from which it comes

Factors Affecting Climate: Wind

• What are westerlies?• What are trade winds?• What are the

doldrums?• What are horse

latitudes?

Factors Affecting Climate: Proximity to Water

• Places located near large bodies of water have a relatively mild climate.

• Water does not heat up or cool down as quickly as the air temperature.

• The warmer breezes blowing off the water help regulate the temperature.

Places located close to large bodies of warm water have a milder climate. Notice the warm ocean current off the coast of northwest Europe- the North Atlantic Drift.

North Atlantic Drift

Compare the climate of London, England with a city in Canada at the same latitude belt. Which region has

the mildest climate? Why?

Combining Climate Elements

High mountains located near large bodies of water block the moisture that blows in from the ocean and create a rain shadow on the leeward side of the mountain.

Windward side of the Mountain

Leeward side of the Mountain

Rain Shadow

Define the following:

• Windward

• Leeward

• Rain Shadow

• Windward- the side of the mountain that faces the ocean and receives precipitation

• Leeward- the arid side of the mountain

• Rain shadow- the leeward side of the mountain that receives little precipitation.

Mountains

Rain shadow

Rain is blocked by the mountains

Winds blow in from west to east and are blocked by the coastal mountains. The moisture never makes it across the mountains

http://gis.binghamton.edu/GIS%20Sites.htm

Helena, MT & Seattle, WA- Why the different climate?

• Helena & Seattle- Similar latitudes

• Helena- 43.9 average temperature/11.8 avg. rainfall

• Seattle- 52.5 avg. temperature/33.6 avg. rainfall