Sigette

Standard:S6E4: The student will understand how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather.

Understanding:Climate and weather measure atmospheric

conditions.

The five factors that affect climate are latitude, prevailing winds, closeness to water, closeness to

mountains, and ocean currents.

Essential Questions:What are some characteristics of Earth’s atmosphere?

How does the Sun interact with Earth to produce weather and climate?

How do oceans, and other large bodies of water, affect the weather and climate of coastal areas?

Why do different parts of the world have different climates?

You know that the Sun hits the Equator more directly.

What effect do you think this might have on the CLIMATE of areas near the Equator?

How does latitude affect climate?

As latitude ________, the averageannual temperature _________.

0° Latitude 90°

Tem

pera

ture

If the wind carries warm air, then they may carry moisture.

If the wind carries cold air, then they will probably be dry.

If the wind blows over a lot of land, then it will probably be dry.

If the wind blows over a lot of water, then it will probably carry moisture.

How does closeness to mountains affect

climate?

Windward Side: ___________Leeward Side: _____________

How does elevation affect climate?

As elevation _________, the averageannual temperature __________.

Elevation

Tem

pera

ture

Reykjavik is near water.

Water moderates temperature.

Yakutsk is NOT near water.

Water moderates temperature.

How does closeness to a large body of water affect climate?

Water __________ the temperature:_______ summers. _______ winters.

City B is closer to a large body of water.

Its temperature line is flatter (moderated).

Cities A & B are located at the same latitude.

How do ocean currentsaffect climate?

South Georgia is mostly flat. This allows air masses to move across the state very easily.

Imagine what would happen to the climate of Hall County if we had high mountains in south Georgia.

Complete a multi-flow map showing what you think would happen to our amount of precipitation, the winds we get, and our temperature.

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