How do Mountains affect the Climate?

Objective for the Day

Today, the we will learn how mountains affect the

climate and complete a worksheet with 100%

accuracy.

What is climate?*It is weather conditions prevailing in an area in

general or over a long period of time.

*It determines the type of plants and animals that can survive, and influences how people live.

*It is determined by averaging the weather of a region over a long period of time, such as 30

years.

First…

One way mountains can affect the climate is by Elevation

What is elevation?The altitude of a place above sea

level or at ground level

How many times have you seen snow on the top of mountains when there

was none in the city below?

The reason for this is: Elevation

-The higher the elevation, the lower the temperature becomes.

-The rate at which temperature drops is known as a lapse rate.

Another way mountains can affect the climate is by rain shadows

What is a rain shadow?

A rain shadow is where rain does not fall. Deserts can form in rain shadow

regions.

-Mountains act as barriers blocking rain and wind

-One side of a mountain may have be experiencing a different climate then the other side. This could cause the mountain to create a rain shadow.

-On the windward side of a mountain range, air rises, cools, and drops its moisture

-On the leeward side of a mountain range air descends, heats up, and dries the land

Windward vs. Leeward

Windward Leeward

rainfall dry

cool warm

wet air sinks

air rises

So let’s review!

What are two ways that mountains can affect the climate?

ElevationRain shadows

Video time

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/weather-and-climate/weather-climate.htm

Works Citedhttps://www.google.com/search?q=mountains+with+climate+rain+shadows&espv=2&biw=1183&bih=651&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VZ1bVO2PIIP9yQTT_oGoDw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=leeward+windward+side+of+the+ountains

https://www.google.com/search?q=mountains+with+climate+rain+shadows&espv=2&biw=1183&bih=651&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VZ1bVO2PIIP9yQTT_oGoDw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=snow+on+mountains

https://www.google.com/search?q=mountains+with+climate+rain+shadows&espv=2&biw=1183&bih=651&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VZ1bVO2PIIP9yQTT_oGoDw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=mountains