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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) _____________