Factors That Affect Climate

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Factors That Affect Climate

• Add this information to your notes packet for
  unit 7.

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Latitude

• Angle of Insolation is the key.
• Higher angle more energy received per square
  unit.
• More energy means higher temperatures.
• Closer to Equator highest temperatures and
  little seasonal change in temperature.
• Closer to Poles lower temperatures and greater
  seasonal change in temperature.

Example graph
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Altitude

• Air cools as it rises.
• Higher the altitude the colder the climate.
• Look at the diagram on page 193 in your book.

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Nearness to large bodies of water

• Water modifies the climate because of Specific
  Heat
• Water heats and cools slower that land.
• Marine Climates
• Coast of continents cool summers, warm winters
• Continental Climates
• Interior of continents hot summers, cool (cold)
  winters
• Ocean currents
• Warm currents make climate warmer than normal
• Cold currents make climates colder than normal

Example graph
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Pressure Belts

• Rising air cool because it expands Called
  Adiabatic temperature change.
• Found at the Equator this area has a lot of
  precipitation and Low air pressure.
• Sinking air warms because it is compressed -
  Called Adiabatic temperature change.
• Found at 30ºN and 30 ºS these areas are very
  dry and have High air pressure.

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Nearness to large bodies of water again

• Closer you are to water the greater the chance of
  precipitation.
• Leeward side of bodies water get more
  precipitation.
• Use wind direction to determine this.

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Mountain Ranges

• Windward side - heres what happens
• Air forced up, expands, cools, reaches dew point,
  clouds form and precipitation fall.
• Makes this side cool and wet.
• Leeward side heres what happens
• Air sinks, compresses, warms and dries out.
• Makes this side warm and arid (dry).
• Look at West coast of US.

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Planetary Wind Belts

• Move moisture around planet.
• Cause ocean currents to move the way they do.
• Control the movement of weather systems.

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