The Factors that Affect Climate

1. The Factors that Affect Climate

2. Identify the five main factors that affect climate and explain how each affects climate.

3. 1. Latitude 2. Closeness to large bodies of water 3. Proximity of mountain ranges 4. Elevation 5. Ocean Currents

4. Latitude

5. How does latitude affect climate? As latitude ________, the average annual temperature _________. increases decreases Temperature 0° Latitude 90°

6. Tropical Latitudes

7. Tropic of Cancer • The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith. This event occurs once per year, at the time of the June solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun to its maximum extent.

8. Tropic of Capricorn • The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.

9. Arctic & Antarctic Circle

10. 60th Parallel • At this latitude the sun is visible for 18 hours, 52 minutes during the summer solstice and 5 hours, 52 minutes during the winter solstice. • On 21 June, the sun is at 53.83 degrees up in the sky and 6.17 degrees on 21 December

11. Barrow, Alaska • In Barrow, the sun does not set between May 10 and August 2 each summer, and does not rise between November 18 and January 24 each winter. • This is because the city is about 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

12. Barrow, Alaska • The Arctic Circle marks the southern limit of the area where the sun does not set on the summer solstice or rise on the winter solstice. • Continuous day or night ranges from one day at the Arctic Circle to six months at the North Pole.

13. Closeness to Large Bodies of Water

15. How does closeness to a large body of water affect climate? Water __________ the temperature. _______ summers. _______ winters. moderates Cooler Warmer Cities A & B are located at the same latitude. City B is closer to a large body of water. Its temperature line is flatter (moderated).

16. Orographic Effect

17. Orographic Effect

18. The leeward sides of the Adirondacks & Catskills receive much less precipitation The windward sides of the Adirondacks & Catskills receive a great deal more precipitation

19. How does the Orographic Effect affect climate? Windward Side: ___________ Leeward Side: _____________ cool, moist warm, dry

20. Elevation

21. Elevation Page 14 of the ESRTs We live in the troposphere. Temperature decreases with elevation.

22. During summer, temperature is strongly controlled by elevation -- cold at the higher reaches of the Alaska and Brooks Ranges, and warmer in the lowlands.

23. How does elevation affect climate? As elevation _________, the average annual temperature __________. increases decreases Temperature Elevation

24. Ocean Currents

25. The Gulf Stream

26. How do ocean currents affect climate? Warm Currents: warmer climate Cold Currents: cooler climate