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Climate vs. Weather Patterns: Understanding Factors Affecting Climates

Explore the factors influencing climates, from latitude and air masses to elevation and ocean currents. Learn how weather patterns differ from climate conditions and their impact on ecosystems.

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Climate vs. Weather Patterns: Understanding Factors Affecting Climates

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  1. Climate

  2. Weather Climate Conditions in the atmosphere of one place over a short period of time. Weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time. Weather v Climate

  3. Factors Affecting Climates • Latitude • Air Masses • Continentality • Elevation • Mountain Barriers • Ocean Currents • Pressure Cells • Storms

  4. Latitude • Most important control on climate • Lower Latitude = Higher Temperature • Middle Latitude = Seasonal Temperature • Higher Latitude = Lower Temperature

  5. Air Masses • Air takes on the characteristics of the land or water it passes over. • Southern Europe = Mediterranean Climate • Hot and Dry in the Summer (due to Sahara) • Cool and Wet In Winter (due to Northern Europe) • Sahara Desert = Hot Air • Himalayas = Cold Air

  6. Continentality • Distance from water • The farther away from water the greater change between winter and summer. • Land does not hold heat as well as water. • For example, two cities at same latitude • San Francisco • Jan. 57/ Jul. 69 • Kansas City • Jan. 22/ Jul. 89

  7. Elevation • The higher the elevation the colder and drier the air is. • Air gets thin as it rises. • Cannot continue to hold heat or moisture.

  8. Mountain Barriers • Mountains block precipitation. • Windward: Side that air blows on that gets rain. • Leeward: Side without rain. • Example: Texas Panhandle is dry because Rocky Mountains block rain.

  9. Ocean Currents • Water of the oceans distribute heat. • Warm air from equator heads to poles, cold water from poles head to equator • Example: Marine West Coast Climate • Western Europe is much warmer (and wetter) than places of similar latitude because of warmer ocean currents. • Waters on the east coasts tend to be warm. • Waters on the west coasts tend to be cool.

  10. Pressure Cells • Lower Pressure Cells = Rising Warm Air • Higher Pressure Cells = Falling Cool Air • 0-30°= Low Pressure • 30-60°= High Pressure • 60-90°= Low Pressure

  11. Looking With LACEMOPS

  12. Storm Systems • Changes data but not long term patterns. • For example, hurricanes bring rain but not all year and not every year.

  13. *Ice Cap Very Cold All Year *Tundra Cold with little vegetation Climate Zones: Polar *Subarctic -Cold snowy winters, cool rainy summers

  14. Humid Continental Warm rainy summers, snowy winters Humid Subtropical Hot rainy summers, mild winters Climate Zones: Temperate • Marine West Coast • Warm summers, cool winters, always wet

  15. *Mediterranean Warm dry summers, cool short winters *Arid Hot and dry all year Climate Zones: Temperate to Arid *Semi-Arid -Hot dry summer, cool dry winter

  16. Tropical Wet and Dry Hot all year, rainy/dry seasons Climate Zones: Tropical • Tropical Wet • Hot and rainy all year

  17. Climate Zones: Special • Highlands • Varies with altitude

  18. Review • The lower the latitude the ____ the climates • Air that passes over a desert will spread _____ and ______ air. • If a place is far from water ____________. • The higher the elevation the ____ the air. • Moutains often block _____.

  19. 1. Most important influence on climate 2. Type of precipitation that occurs above the equator where hot air rises 3. Mountains often block ______ leaving one side of a mountain a desert 4. The position of the ____ causes earth’s seasons, climates, and day/night. 5. Explains why climates in the center of a continent have more extreme changes in temperatures. A. Continentality B. Precipitation C. Sun D. Latitude E. Convectional LACEMOPS REVIEW

  20. Climate and Ecosystems Climate: Average of temperatures and precipitation over a long period of time. Ecosystem: Interaction of plant, animal life, and the physical environment. Biomes: Major types of ecosystems in various regions of the world.

  21. Climate

  22. Forests • Tropical Rainforest • Occur where wet and hot (Tropics) • Broadleaf Evergreens (Keep Leaves All Year) • Most diverse animals and plants • Mid-Latitude • Seasonal climates (Middle Latitudes) • Deciduous (Shed Their Leaves) • Coniferous • Occur in cold climates (Polar) • Needle Leaves and Cones to Protect Seeds • Grasslands (Center of Continents) • Tropical • Warm lands near equator • Have wet and dry seasons • Temperate • Occur in middle latitudes • Precipitation Varies • Deserts • Arid (Dry) • Specialized plants and animals • Tundra • Temperatures are always cool or cold • Small flowers, few plants, moss, lichen • Least diverse wildlife on earth

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