Climate

1. Climate Chapter 14

2. 14.1 Objectives • Describe different types of climate data. • Recognize limits associated with the use of normals • Explain why climates vary.

3. Weather is a current, short-term variation in the atmosphere.

4. Climatology is the study of Earth’s climate and the factors that affect past, present, and future climate changes.

5. Climate Data Types of climate data include annual variations in temperature, precipitation, and wind. In addition to average weather conditions, climatological data also describes annual variations and fluctuations of temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and other variables.

6. Annual variations Why is it useful to collect annual variations in climatological data in addition to average weather conditions? Annual variations give a more accurate view of the temperature fluctuations in an area. This information can be useful in designing buildings or in locating new facilities. It can also help people who have medical conditions that require them to live in certain climates.

7. Climatologicalnormals: • They represent the standard values for a location. • They are averaged on a monthly or annual basis. • The information applies only to the place where the data was collected.

8. Water’s Impact Two climates that are at the same latitude may be different because of bodies of water. Line of Latitude

9. Earth’s Zones (Latitude) POLAR TEMPERATE TROPICAL Places at different latitudes on Earth receive different amounts of solar radiation. Areas closer to the equator receive more direct solar radiation for a longer period of time. This makes them warmer than places farther from the equator that receive less direct solar radiation for a shorter period of time.

10. Polar Region The climatic zone that receives the least solar radiation and has the coldest climate is the polar region. POLAR

11. 14.2 Objectives Climate Classifications • Describe the criteria used to classify climates. • Compare and Contrast different climates.

12. Climate Criteria The major criteria used to classify climates are temperature and amount of precipitation.

13. Koeppen classification A widely used climate classification system is the Koeppen system.

14. Koeppen classification (continued) The Koeppen classification system classifies climate based on mean monthly values of temperature and precipitation.

15. Koeppen classification (continued) • Tropical - Constant high temperatures • Subtropical - Divided into two subtypes: humid and dry summer • Dry – precipitation is low and vegetation is scarce. • Temperate – summer and winter temperatures can be extreme • Polar - Constant cold temperatures and generally low precipitation

16. Microclimates A microclimate is a localized climate that differs from the main regional climate around it. May be as small as a few square meters(for example a garden bed) or as large as many square kilometers. Microclimates include areas that have lake-effect snow(Syracuse, NY), areas at the tops of mountains, (Mt. Washington, NH) and heat islands.

17. 14.3 Objectives • Distinguish among different types of climatic changes. • Recognize why climatic changes occur.

18. Ice Ages Periods of extensive glacial coverage are called ice ages. Within Earth’s recorded history there are at least 5 recognizable times when the surface was covered by vast sheets of ice.

19. El Niño A warm ocean current that develops off the west coast of South America is El Niño.

20. El Niño Impact. One of the effects of El Niño is that the jet stream shifts farther south.

21. Seasons Seasons are short-term period of climatic change caused by regular variations in daylight, temperature, and weather patterns.

22. Earth’s elliptical orbit The shape of Earth’s elliptical orbit and the tilt of its axis could have triggered climate changes in the past.

23. Earth’s elliptical orbit (continued) When Earth’s elliptical orbit elongates during its 100 000-year cycle, Earth passes closer to the sun and temperatures become warmer than normal. Current ~ 3% Minimum 1% Maximum 11%

24. Maunder minimum The Maunder minimum is a period of very low sunspot activity that closely corresponded to an unusually cold climatic episode. Studies indicate that periods of low sunspot activity, like the Maunder minimum, correspond to unusually cold climate conditions.

25. 14.4 Objectives • Compare and Contrast the greenhouse effect and global warming. • Identify how humans impact climate.

26. Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is the natural heating of Earth’s surface caused by certain gases in the atmosphere.

27. Could global warming happen without the greenhouse effect? No - the greenhouse effect allows Earth’s atmosphere to trap heat. Global warming, which is the rise in global temperatures, would not happen if Earth’s atmosphere could not retain heat through the greenhouse effect.

28. Greenhouse Effect & Global Warming Global warming (Climate change, in the press) Greenhouse effect Global warming is the abnormal rise in global temperatures due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Both involve the heating of Earth. The greenhouse effect is the natural heating of Earth’s surface caused by atmospheric gases.

29. CO2 (carbon dioxide) The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

30. Minimize YOUR footprint Driving and using electricity require the burning of fossil fuels and therefore cause an increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Use of paper and wood products involves deforestation. This removes trees that use carbon dioxide in the atmospheric for photosynthesis. What can be done ? Using motor vehicles less often and conserving electricity can decrease the production of greenhouse gases. Using recycled paper and using fewer paper and wood products would decrease the need for deforestation. Reduce Re-use Recycle