The climate of a region is determined by temperature and precipitation patterns over long periods of time. Key factors that influence climate include latitude, elevation, ocean currents, prevailing winds, and mountain ranges. Climate zones are generally divided into polar, temperate, and tropical zones based on average temperatures. Changes in Earth's climate over time are driven by natural factors like continental drift, variations in the planet's orbit and tilt, and greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

1. Climate
Climate
• The general condition of temperature and
precipitation for an area for an extended period of
time.
• The climate of any region of the world is
determined by 2 factors: 1) temperature and 2)
precipitation.

3. Factors that Affect Temperature
1) Latitude
• Areas close to the equator receive direct rays
(warmer).
• In Polar Regions, sun’s rays are not as direct.
(cooler temperatures).

5. 2) Elevation
• As elevation increases, the
temperature decreases.
• Air is less dense.

6. Canadian Rockies

8. 3. Ocean Currents
• Some currents are warm.
• Surface temperature of water affects the
temperature of the air above it.
• Land near warm currents has warmer
temperatures. Ex: Ireland
Land near cold currents has cooler temperatures.
Ex: California coast.

9. Major Ocean Currents:
Warm Current
Cold Current

11. Ireland

12. Maine

13. California surfer during the summer…wearing a wetsuit!!!

14. Factors that Affect Precipitation (2 factors)
1) Prevailing winds
•
They tend to blow from one direction
•
Influences climate
•
Moisture content may vary:
a) Warm air holds more moisture than cold air.
b) Winds from rising warm air tend to bring precipitation
c) Winds from rising cold air tend to bring little precipitation.
•
Direction form which wind blows
a) land breeze – dry Ex. Sahara desert in Africa
b) sea breeze – moisture Ex. England, Scotland, Ireland.

16. 2. Mountain Ranges
•
Act as a barrier to winds and precipitation
a) Windward side – side facing wind receives more
precipitation (wet).
b) Leeward side – side facing awy from wind receives less
precipitation (dryer).
Process:
1) Moist Air moves up windward side – cools, dropping
precipitation.
Moves over mountaintop to leeward side bringing dryer air.
There is little precipitation.
Example: Sierra Nevada mountain range: western side is moist, east side is
dry.

18. FACTORS THAT AFFECT CLIMATE: 5 MIN

19. Climate Zones
Climates are divided by average
temperature determined by:
1) Location
2) Latitude

20. 3 Climate Zones:
1) Polar (Alaska)
• Arctic regions
• 90° - 60° latitude
• coldest, temps are below freezing

21. Yanert Glacier, Alaska

22. Hubbard Glacier, Southeast Alaska

25. 2) Temperate (USA)
• Middle latitude/60° - 30° latitude
• average precip of rain (year round) and
snow (winter) is about the same
• Temps vary: 5° C - 20° C

27. 3) Tropical (Hawaii, Caribbean)
• Low latitude/30° N and S to the equator
• Highest temperatures (does not fall
below 18° C)
• High humidity
• Mild winter temps.

31. CLIMATE REGIONS: 2 MIN

32. Changes in Climate
What causes the climate to change?
3 natural factors:
1) slow drifting of continents
2) changes in the sun’s energy output
3) variations in the position of the Earth relative to the sun,
collectively known as the “Milankovitch Cycles.”

33. 1. Ice Ages
• Periodically, the Earth’s surface
have been covered enormous sheets
of ice.
• 4 major ice ages (major glaciations)
during the past 2 million years.
• Average temperature was about 6° C
below today’s avg. temp.
• Lasts about 100,000 or more. The
most recent began about 1.75 mya
and ended 10,000 ago.
• Time period between major
glaciations are called interglacials.
(warm period - today)
What kind of life existed?

34. Based on true events? 2 min

35. 2. Drifting Continents
• Approximately 200
mya, Pangaea started to
drift.
•
Plate tectonics.
• Temp and precip
dropped.
• Moves only a few
cm/yr. So, climate
changes will happen
over millions of years.

36. 3. Extinction of Dinosaurs
Possible reasons:
1) Dinosaurs could not adapt to
the slow change in climate.
2) Many plants became extinct.
3) Asteroid struck the Earth 65
mya. This resulted in
enormous clouds and dust
worldwide blocking the sun’s
rays. Temperatures dropped.
Actually, the real reason why
dinosaurs became extinct is
because of…

39. 65 Million Years Ago

40. 4. Variations in Radiant Energy
Some scientists believe the sun’s energy output changes over time,
affecting the Earth’s temperature. But there is no evidence.
5. Global Warming
•
Human activity may have influenced the climate.
• Fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas. These release a
greenhouse gas - CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) which traps heat in the
atmosphere.
• In the past 25 years, CO2 levels have increased by 8%. If this
continues, an increase of 2° C can be drastic.

42. 6. El Nino
• Normally, tradewinds off the coast of South America
flow east-to-west and pile up warm water in the western
Pacific.
• Every few years, the tradewinds change direction,
allowing the pool of warm water to move east where it
blocks the rising cold water.
• These changes help trigger the global weather changes
associated with El Niño. EX. Increased rainfall in the
southern half of the U.S. & droughts in Indonesia.

45. El Nino and La Nina: 1:44 min

46. Every 100,000 years, the Earth’s eccentricity changes from a more
elliptical (oval-shaped) to a less elliptical shape (circular).

47. TILT - Every 41,000 years, the angle or the Earth’s
axis shifts from 21.4 degrees to 24.5 degrees.

48. Every 23,000 years, the Earth’s axis
“wobbles” from one end to the other.

49. Climate Change (7 min)