What is a climagraph?• A graph of the monthly mean temperature,

temperature range and precipitation of a particular city.

• Always includes as its title the name of the city, latitude and elevation (in ft and m).

M.E.L.L.O.W.Controls of Temperature

•Mountains•Elevation•Latitude #1-Most influential•Land vs. Water•Ocean Currents•Wind and Pressure Belts

Mountains

Mountains continued

Windward Side Leeward Side

Elevation

• The air is rare up there!

• Decrease pressure, decrease temperature.

• The RANGE stays the same!

Latitude

• Rays and days! • Strength of the sun’s rays and the length

of the days are the number 1 factor in heating the Earth.

• Closer to equator, there are stronger rays and more consistent day length.

• So, in general… increase latitude, decrease average temperature.

Land vs. Water

• Land heats up and cools down FASTER than water.– Water has a HIGH specific heat- takes more

energy to heat one gram one degree celsius.– Water is transparent-light can travel through

it. Land is opaque. – Water can convect heat throughout. Land

CANNOT convect and it does NOT conduct very well.

Ocean Currents• Recall: The Sun heats the Earth and the

Earth heats the air. • Warm ocean currents will heat the air

above. • Wind belts can then move that warm air

Climagraph- Ocean Current

New York London

Wind & Pressure Belts