Climate Factors

I love learning about climate factors

Me too! Mr.

Roseen’s class is the best!

Weather vs. Climate

Weather and Climate are not the same

• Weather - The conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.

• Climate - Average conditions of a certain place over a long period of time

6 Climate Factors

I. Latitude

II. Altitude

III. Land - Water Relationship

IV. Mountain Barriers

V. Ocean Currents

VI. Prevailing Winds

Latitude

I. Latitude - Distance north or south of the equator

A. Low - Warm to hot

B. Middle - Seasonal

C. High - Polar (cool to cold)

*Latitude impacts EVERY PLACE on the Earth*

Altitude

II. Altitude - Height above sea level

A. In mountain areas, there are major climatic differences from the bottom to the top.

B. As air rises, it loses the ability to hold heat. It gets 1F colder for every 300-400 ft. you go up.

Altitude

Snow Cap

Sea LevelTree Line

* Altitude impacts if over 5,000 ft*

Burr,

it’s

gettin

g

cold!

Land-Water Relationship

III. Land-Water Relationship A. A large body of water tends to cause a

mild or moderate climate. (Very little change)

B. A body of water heats up and cools down slower than a land mass

C. Wind assumes the temp. of the surface it passes over and carries that temp. with it. (ex. San Diego)

Land-Water Relationship

LANDOCEAN

Mountain Barriers

IV. Mountain Barriers - Cause different climates on opposite sides of mountain.

A. Moisture carrying winds must rise to get over mountains.

B. Air cools as it rises, losing ability to hold water causing rain on the windward side

C. This leaves no moisture for the leeward side creating a desert.

Mountain Barriers

Ocean

WIND

Rain

WINDWARD SIDELEEWARD SIDE

Dry

Seattle, WA(80 in. Rain per Year)

Cascade Mts5,000 ft.

Spokane, WA12 in. Rain per Year

Less Rain

Less rain

NO RAIN

Ocean Currents

V. Ocean Currents - Rivers of water that move through the ocean.

A. They assume the temperature of the water that they pass over and carry that temperature.

B. Wind passing over the current must pass near the land mass to have an impact.

Warm Currents

OCEANLAND

CausesWarmAnd

MoistClimate

(Rain Forest)

Cold CurrentsOCEAN

LAND

CausesCoolAndDry

Climate

(Desert)

Prevailing Winds

VI. Prevailing Winds - Winds that blow most often in different parts of the Earth.

A. Wind blows because:1. Air over warm land rises

2. Cooler air moves in from surrounding areas to replace rising air

3. The cool air is heated and process repeats

*Prevailing wind impacts EVERY PLACE on the

Earth*

Prevailing Winds

Warm Air Rises

Warm Land Mass

Low Pressure

L

Cool Air Descends

Cool Land Mass or Water

High Pressure

H