Climate and Climate and WeatherWeather

Factors Creating the World’s Climate

Weather ConditionsWeather Conditions• Weather: condition of the

atmosphere at a particular time– Includes:

• Temperature• Precipitation• Humidity (how much water is in

the air)

– Weather changes because of air masses, or large areas of air that have the same temperature and humidity

– Boundary between two masses is called a front

• A warm humid front usually means a thunderstorm

–

Climate ElementsClimate Elements

• Climate: the average condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time.– Includes:

• Average temperature• Average precipitation• Amount of change from

one season to another

– Usually is calculated over a period of 30 years

Five Factors Affecting Five Factors Affecting ClimateClimate

• Five factors that affect climate are:Five factors that affect climate are:– SUN/LATITUDE– OCEAN CURRENTS– PREVAILING WINDS– PEOPLE– LANDFORMS/ELEVATION

• NatGeo Video: Climate and weatherNatGeo Video: Climate and weather

Weather or Climate?Weather or Climate?

• It snowed a lot in January this year.– Weather

• Summers are usually hot and rainy and winters are cool but dry.– Climate

• It is usually hot and dry here in the summer.– Climate

• Nebraska receives an average rainfall of 30 cm per year.– Climate

• Last night we received 6 inches of snow.– Weather

• It’s a beautiful day—warm and sunny.– Weather

Climate is what you expect.

Weather is what you get!

Factor #1: SUN/LATITUDEFactor #1: SUN/LATITUDE• The Sun/Latitude

– The original source of climate

– Warms the air, water, and land for all life forms

– Latitude impacts the angle the sun hits the planet

Factor #2: Ocean CurrentsFactor #2: Ocean Currents• Ocean Currents

– The movement of water in the oceans impacts climate– Warm and cold currents, like the Gulf Stream, can alter a

location’s climate significantly

A look below the ocean’ surface exposes diverse landforms; including undersea mountains, deep canyons, and broad abyssal plains. Due to this varied undersea landscape, in combination with the varied transitions to coastal land, water circulation in the oceans will naturally change in response to subterranean contours.

Figure 2.2 reveals that all the oceans are connected, and that large currents of water travel throughout the oceans. For the most part, warm water currents move from the equator toward the poles, while cold water sinks in locations at higher latitudes.

Factor #3: WINDFactor #3: WIND• Wind

– Movement of warm and cold air– Prevailing winds come from one direction and blow most of

the time– Storms are created by the movement of wind and water

around the Earth• Ocean and Wind Circulation Interactive

Factor #4: PeopleFactor #4: People

• People – Greenhouse Effect

• Warming of the Earth (Interactive)

• Global Warming 101 (3:04)

– Deforestation• Cutting down or

destroying forests

Factor #5: Elevation & Factor #5: Elevation & LandformsLandforms

• Landforms – Elevation can impact climate – the higher

the elevation, the colder it gets– Rain Shadow

• Example

World Climate RegionsWorld Climate Regions

World Climate RegionsWorld Climate Regions• Climate region: a group of places that

have similar temperatures, precipitation levels and changes in weather– Dry Climates– Humid Temperate Climates– Humid Equatorial Climates– Tundra or Ice Climates– Humid Cold Climates

Dry ClimatesDry Climates• Little to no Little to no rainrain or snow or snow• Both hot and cold temperaturesBoth hot and cold temperatures• Plant life includes:Plant life includes:

– ShrubsShrubs– CactiCacti

Humid Temperate ClimatesHumid Temperate Climates

• Cool Cool winterswinters and warm summers and warm summers• Ample Ample rainfallrainfall• Plant life includes:Plant life includes:

– Mixed forests with evergreensMixed forests with evergreens– Leafy treesLeafy trees

Humid Equatorial ClimatesHumid Equatorial Climates

• Found near the Found near the equatorequator• High temperatures High temperatures • Rainfall Rainfall allall or most of the year or most of the year• Plant life includes:Plant life includes:

– Tropical plants and rainforests ORTropical plants and rainforests OR– GrasslandsGrasslands with trees with trees

Tundra or Ice ClimatesTundra or Ice Climates

• NorthNorth of the Arctic Circle and south of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circleof the Antarctic Circle

• Long, cold winters and short Long, cold winters and short summerssummers

• Plant life includes:Plant life includes:– MossesMosses OR OR– No vegetationNo vegetation

Humid Cold ClimatesHumid Cold Climates

• ColdCold winters and warm summers winters and warm summers• Rain and snowRain and snow• Plant life includes:Plant life includes:

– Evergreen forests OREvergreen forests OR– DeciduousDeciduous/leafy forests/leafy forests

Extreme WeatherExtreme Weather• ThunderstormThunderstorm: a storm with lightning : a storm with lightning

and thunder, usually producing gusty and thunder, usually producing gusty winds, heavy rain, and sometimes hail winds, heavy rain, and sometimes hail

• TornadoTornado: : a smaller storm than a a smaller storm than a cyclone, with winds powerful enough to cyclone, with winds powerful enough to reach 300 mphreach 300 mph

• CycloneCyclone: a storm with rotating winds: a storm with rotating winds– Called a typhoon in the Eastern HemisphereCalled a typhoon in the Eastern Hemisphere

• HurricaneHurricane: A strong storm with : A strong storm with swirling winds and heavy rainsswirling winds and heavy rains– How Stuff Works: Hurricanes– Hurricane Paths

Extreme WeatherExtreme Weather• FloodFlood: : When water covers an area of land that When water covers an area of land that

is usually dry (often after a cyclone)is usually dry (often after a cyclone)• BlizzardBlizzard: : A heavy snowstorms with strong A heavy snowstorms with strong

winds and very cold temperatureswinds and very cold temperatures• DroughtDrought: : When the amount of rainfall drops far When the amount of rainfall drops far

below the average amount, usually below the average amount, usually accompanied by a heat wave (unusually high accompanied by a heat wave (unusually high temperatures over a period of time)temperatures over a period of time)

• Today’s scientists are working to lessen the Today’s scientists are working to lessen the effects of extreme weather on humans and effects of extreme weather on humans and predict big stormspredict big storms

ANY ANY QUESTIONS???QUESTIONS???