Chapter 14 Climate

8/3/2019 Chapter 14 Climate

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Chapter

1414 Climate


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14.1 Defining Climate (p. 376)

Climatology: study of Earths climate and

factors that affect past, present, and future

climate changes Climate: describes long-term weather

patterns of an area

Normals: standard values for a location

Temperature, precipitation, wind, etc.


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Factors That Affect Climate

14.1 Factors That Affect Climate

Latitude As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy

decreases.

The tropical zone is between 23.5o north (the

tropic of Cancer) and 23.5o south (the tropic of

Capricorn) of the equator. The suns rays are most

intense and the temperatures are always warm. The temperate zones are between 23.5o and 66.5o

north and between 23.5o and 66.5o south of the

equator. The suns rays strike Earth at a smaller

angle than near the equator.


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Latitude, cont.

Polar zones are between 66.5o north and

south latitudes and the poles. The suns rays

strike Earth at a very small angle in the polarzones.


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Earths Major Climate Zones


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Climate Data for Two Cities


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Elevation

The higher the elevation is, the colder the climate.

Topography

1. Water: heats and cools more slowly than land;

coastal areas warmer than surrounding in winter

and cooler in summer (exp: Great Lakes)

2. Mountains: wind-ward side is wet and cool and

leeward side is drier and warms as it descends

(deserts are common on leeward side of

mountains) (see p. 379)


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The Rain Shadow Effect


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Atmospheric Circulation

Global winds are another factor that influencesclimate because they distribute heat and moisture

around Earth.


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The Kppen Climate Classification System

14.2 Climate Classification

The Kppen climate classification

system uses mean monthly and annual

values of temperature and precipitation to

classify climates.

Also takes into account the vegetation

present in each climate.


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Tropical Climates

21.2 World Climates

Year-round high temperatures

Every month in such a climate has a mean

temperature above 18oC.

The amount of precipitation can exceed 200

cm per year in tropical wet climates.

The areas north and south of the region

around the equator are known as transition

zones and have both wet and dry seasons.


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Rain Forest in Malaysia


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African Savanna-transition zone


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Climate Classification, cont.

Dry Climates: largest climatic zone (30%

land)

Continental tropical air dominates Precipitation is low and little vegetation

Deserts and semideserts (more humid

than deserts)


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Mild climates: 3 categories

1. humid subtropical: SE US, muggy and

warm in summer, cooler and dry in winter

2. marine west-coast: NW US, mild winters

and cool summers, abundant precipitation

3. Mediterranean: California, warm and dry


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Continental Climates: rapid and violent

weather changes due to tropical and polar

air masses meeting to form fronts.

Midwestern US


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Mid-Latitude Climates


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Mid-Latitude Climates


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Polar Climates: the tundra

mean temperature is less than 10 degrees

celcius

Little precipitation because temperature does

not create enough convection currents to

release heavy precipitation


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An Ice Cap Climate Is a Polar Climate


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Microclimates (p. 385)

Microclimate: localized climate that differs

from the regions climate

Heat island: large cities with a lot of buildings

and concrete may be warmer than

surrounding area

Concrete, pavement, etc. are darker and absorb

more heat, visible light, etc.


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14.3 Climatic Changes (p. 387)

Long-term:

Ice ages: periods of extensive glacial

coverage

Average global temperature decreased by 5

degrees celcius

Most recent ice age ended 10,000 years ago when

glaciers were as far south as Indiana


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Natural Processes That Change Climates

14.3 Climate Changes

Volcanic Eruptions

The presence of volcanic aerosols (ash, dust,

and sulfur-based aerosols) in the air increases

the amount of solar radiation that is reflected

back into space. This causes Earths lower

atmosphere to cool because less heat strikes

Earths surface. Ocean Circulation

Changes in ocean circulation also can result in

short-term climate fluctuations.


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Eruption of Mount Pinatubo


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Climatic Changes, cont.

El Nino

Band of warm ocean temperatures that

develops off the western coast of S. America


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Effect ofEl Nio


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Natural Processes That Change Climates

14.3 Climate Changes

Solar Activity

When the sun is most active, it contains dark

blemishes called sunspots. The formation of

sunspots appears to correspond with warm

periods in Europe and North America.

Earth Motions

Geographic changes in Earths land and waterbodies cause changes in climate.

Changes in the shape of Earths orbit and the

tilt of Earth on its axis are other Earth motions

that affect global climates.


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Carbon Dioxide Concentrations

and Emissions


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Increases in Greenhouse Gases

and Changes in Temperature

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Chapter 14 Climate