Climate and Weather

Climate vs. Weather

• Weather= condition of the atmosphere in one place during a period of time– Changes quickly– Short-term aspect of climate

• Climate= weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time– Doesn’t often change– Very predictable

Changes in Sunlight

• Earth’s Tilt – Axis: imaginary line running from the North Pole to

the South Pole through Earth’s center– Axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5°– The angle of tilt affects

• Amount of direct sunlight• Temperature

• Earth’s Rotation– The Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours– One hemisphere faces the sun at a time

Changes in Sunlight

• Earth’s Revolution– Earth is also orbiting around the sun– Takes 365 days to complete one trip

• Earth’s Revolution + Tilt – Cause changes in the angle and amount of

sunlight that reach different locations on Earth– Cause seasons

The Greenhouse Effect

• The Greenhouse Effect = the Earth’s atmosphere traps some heat from the Sun and keeps it from escaping back into space

• Many scientists believe that too much Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere has caused too much heat to be trapped and has led to rising global temperatures

• What problems could this cause?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWNIOajCemE

What factors affect climate?

• Latitude:– High latitudes receive continuous (but indirect)

sunlight, depending on the time of year (polar areas)– Low latitudes receive direct rays of the sun year round

(warm to hot climates)– Mid-latitudes have a temperate climate with dramatic

seasonal weather changes• Landforms:

- The windward side of mountains receive extra rain, whereas the opposite (leeward) side of mountains receive very little rain and are often desert-like areas

What factors affect climate?• Elevation:– Atmosphere thins as elevation increases– The higher up, the colder it is– Many mountains have snow year-round

• Winds:– Can bring in cold air or warm air– Create high or low pressure systems

• Oceans:– Areas around water tend to be more moderate in temperature– Warm currents bring warm water from the Equator– Cold currents bring cold water from the Polar regions– El Niño reverses wind/ocean patterns