MET 10 1 MET 10 Weather and Climate MET 10 Weather and Climate: Lecture 14 Global Climate Dr. Eugene Cordero Fall 2003 San Jose State University Reading:

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1 MET 10 Weather and Climate

MET 10 Weather and Climate: Lecture 14

Global Climate

Dr. Eugene Cordero

Fall 2003San Jose State UniversityReading: Ch 13: pg 339-345

Outline:Outline: What is climate?What is climate? Factors that influence local Factors that influence local

climateclimate Climate gameClimate game

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Major Circulation FeaturesMajor Circulation Features

TropicsTropics– SE and NE Trade windsSE and NE Trade winds– ITCZITCZ– Subtropical HighsSubtropical Highs

MidlatitudesMidlatitudes– Upper level WesterliesUpper level Westerlies– Midlatitude CyclonesMidlatitude Cyclones

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Major Winds Systems

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What is climate?What is climate?

Climate isClimate is

Examples of weather vs climate:Examples of weather vs climate:

Climate is:Climate is:

the average of day to day weather over a long durationthe average of day to day weather over a long duration

–Today the temperature is 68F (weather).Today the temperature is 68F (weather).

–Los Angeles has warm summers (climate).Los Angeles has warm summers (climate).

Annual Surface TemperatureAnnual Surface Temperature

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January Average sea-level Pressure and surface wind patternJanuary Average sea-level Pressure and surface wind pattern

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July Average sea-level Pressure and surface wind patternJuly Average sea-level Pressure and surface wind pattern

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Controls on ClimateControls on Climate

Seasonal temperature and precipitation patters Seasonal temperature and precipitation patters are generally attributable to: are generally attributable to:

LatitudeLatitude Mountains and highlandsMountains and highlands Pressure and wind systems Pressure and wind systems Land and water locationLand and water location Ocean currentsOcean currents Prevailing wind directionPrevailing wind direction

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Climate controls: Climate controls: Latitude/MountainsLatitude/Mountains

LatitudeLatitude– –

MountainsMountains– –

Higher latitude climates are generally colderHigher latitude climates are generally colder

Lower latitudes warmer and more moistLower latitudes warmer and more moist

Higher altitudes: cooler temperaturesHigher altitudes: cooler temperatures

Windward side of mountains, cooler and Windward side of mountains, cooler and wetter than leeward sidewetter than leeward side

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Controls on Climate: OceansControls on Climate: Oceans

Ocean TemperaturesOcean Temperatures– Coasts of continents are affected by ocean Coasts of continents are affected by ocean

temperatures: Generally less temperature temperatures: Generally less temperature extremes compared to interior of continentsextremes compared to interior of continents

– Cold oceans: Cold oceans:

– Warm oceans:Warm oceans:

generally produce cooler/drier conditionsgenerally produce cooler/drier conditions

generally produce more warm/humid conditionsgenerally produce more warm/humid conditions

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Controls on Climate: Controls on Climate: Pressure systemsPressure systems

Rising and sinking motion associated with low Rising and sinking motion associated with low and high pressure affects climateand high pressure affects climate

Areas where pressure seasonally low, (rising Areas where pressure seasonally low, (rising motion)motion)–

Areas where pressure seasonally high, (sinking Areas where pressure seasonally high, (sinking motion) motion) –

ITCZ: rainyITCZ: rainy

Subtropical high: warm and drySubtropical high: warm and dry

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Three Cell Model

Climate Game Climate Game Names Names

______________________________________________________ Match the city with the corresponding climatology Match the city with the corresponding climatology

by indicating the appropriate letterby indicating the appropriate letter

Sacramento, California (38°°N) _____________ Phoenix, Arizona (33Phoenix, Arizona (33°°N)N) __________________________ Denver, Colorado (40Denver, Colorado (40°°N)N) __________________________ Iquitos, Peru (4Iquitos, Peru (4°°S)S) __________________________ Mobile, Alabama (30°°N) _____________ Winnipeg, Canada (50°°N) _____________ Fairbanks, Alaska (65°°N) _____________

Documents

MET 10 1 MET 10 Weather and Climate MET 10 Weather and Climate: Lecture 14 Global Climate Dr. Eugene Cordero Fall 2003 San Jose State University Reading: