The ClimateChapter 25

Climate• Climate: the average weather conditions in an

area over a long period of time

• Weather: is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time.

Factors that Affect Climate• Factors that Affect Climate: Temperature,

Precipitation, Latitude (affects solar energy and global wind patterns)

• Specific Heat: the quantity of heat required to raise a unit mass of material 1 C in a specified way give constant pressure and volume. Causing water to warm more slowly than land.

El Nino

• El Nino: the warm-water phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, a periodic occurrence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface-water temperature becomes unusually warm. It occurs every 3 to 10 years and causes large amounts of rain in the South Western US. There is also a cool-water phase called La Nina that affects weather patterns.

Monsoons• Monsoon: a seasonal wind

that blows toward the land in the summer, bringing heavy rains, and that blows away from the land in the winter, bring dry weather. These occur in Southern and Eastern Asia.

Topography• Topography: the surface features of the land can

influence climate.

• Mountains cause air to rise, cool, and lose moisture as the air passes over the mountains. As the air sinks, it compresses and warms on the other side of the mountain.

Climate Zones• There are 3 major types of climate zones:

Tropical, Middle Latitude, and Polar.

Tropical Climates• Tropical Climate: a climate characterized by

high temperatures and heavy precipitation during at least part of the year; typical of equatorial regions. (Rain Forest, Desert, Savanna)

Middle-Latitude Climates• Middle-Latitude Climate: a

climate that has an average maximum temperature of 8C in the coldest month and an average minimum temperature of 10C in the warmest month.

Polar Climates• Polar Climate: a climate that is characterized by

average temperatures that are near or below freezing; typical of polar regions. (Subarctic, Tundra, Polar Icecap Climates)

Local Climates• Microclimate: the climate of a small area.

Climate Change• Climatologist: a scientist who gathers data

to study and compare past and present climates and to predict future climate change.

Climate Change• Methods of Studying Past Climates: – Ice Cores–Sea-Floor Sediment–Fossils–Tree Rings

Climate Change• Potential Causes of Climate Change: –Movement of Tectonic Plates–Changes in Earth’s Orbit–Human Activity–Atmospheric Changes (Volcanoes)

Climate Change• Global Warming: a gradual increase in the

average global temperature that is due to a higher concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere– Causing Sea Level Changes

Climate Change• What Humans Can Do:– Reduce CO2 pollution– Use public transportation / drive fuel-efficient cars– Use less electricity– Recycle