WEATHER & CLIMATEWEATHER & CLIMATE

WEATHERWEATHER• The The weatherweather refers to the environmental refers to the environmental

conditions that occur at a particular place at a conditions that occur at a particular place at a particular time.particular time.

• Factors involved in the weather for a region Factors involved in the weather for a region include:include:• TemperatureTemperature• PrecipitationPrecipitation• HumidityHumidity• Wind Direction & SpeedWind Direction & Speed

• The weather is studied by The weather is studied by meteorologistsmeteorologists..

TYPES OF WEATHERTYPES OF WEATHER

CLIMATECLIMATE• ClimateClimate is the is the average weather conditionsaverage weather conditions

that occur in a region over a long period of time. that occur in a region over a long period of time. (Usually a minimum of 30 years)(Usually a minimum of 30 years)

• The climate of an area is affected by four main The climate of an area is affected by four main factors:factors:• LatitudeLatitude – How far north or south. – How far north or south.• ElevationElevation – How high up. – How high up.• Air Masses for the RegionAir Masses for the Region – Cold or warm. – Cold or warm. • Closeness to Large Bodies of WaterCloseness to Large Bodies of Water – Lakes & – Lakes &

Oceans.Oceans.• A A climatologistclimatologist studies the climate. studies the climate.

How Climate Affects UsHow Climate Affects Us• How does climate affect How does climate affect

you and I on a daily you and I on a daily basis?basis?• FoodFood – all foods come – all foods come

from plants.from plants.• Shelter Shelter – Pine trees – Pine trees

dominate Canada pine dominate Canada pine wood used in home wood used in home construction.construction.

• ClothingClothing – Materials – Materials clothes are made of as clothes are made of as well as the style of clothes well as the style of clothes you wear.you wear.

• Energy UsageEnergy Usage – Cooling in – Cooling in the Summer and warming the Summer and warming in the Winter.in the Winter.

BLAME IT ON THE SUN!BLAME IT ON THE SUN!• Both weather and climate depend on the amount of Both weather and climate depend on the amount of

energy in the region. All energy comes to Earth energy in the region. All energy comes to Earth from the Sun as from the Sun as solar radiationsolar radiation..

• The areas near the Earth’s equator receive more The areas near the Earth’s equator receive more solar radiation than those further north or south of solar radiation than those further north or south of it.it.

• Some of the solar radiation is absorbed by the Some of the solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and is converted into Earth’s surface and is converted into thermal thermal energyenergy ( (heatheat). (This is really a measure of how fast ). (This is really a measure of how fast the particles are moving within the substance – the particles are moving within the substance – faster means hotter!)faster means hotter!)

• Less than 1% of the solar radiation is Less than 1% of the solar radiation is used by plants for photosynthesis.used by plants for photosynthesis.

Solar Radiation Solar Radiation Thermal Energy Thermal Energy

EARTH’S BIOSPHEREEARTH’S BIOSPHERE• The The biospherebiosphere is a relatively thin layer of is a relatively thin layer of

the Earth where all living things live.the Earth where all living things live.• It has all of the conditions needed to It has all of the conditions needed to

support life.support life.• The biosphere is impacted by three other The biosphere is impacted by three other

spheres – each one contributing to the spheres – each one contributing to the quality of life for living things.quality of life for living things.• Atmosphere - AirAtmosphere - Air• Lithosphere – Earth/SoilLithosphere – Earth/Soil• Hydrosphere - WaterHydrosphere - Water

The BIOSPHEREThe BIOSPHERE

THE ENDTHE END