1. Climate TermsClimate Terms

2. Factors Affecting ClimateFactors Affecting Climate
A. Low Latitudes
(30° S. to 30° N)
B. High Latitudes
(60-90° N, 60-90° S.)
C. Arctic Circle
(66° N)
D. Antarctic Circle
(66° S)
E. Mid Latitudes
(30-60°, N & S)

3. Factors Affecting ClimateFactors Affecting Climate
Latitude plays a major role in climate. The
farther one gets from the Equator, the
cooler the climate.
High elevations are generally cooler than
the surrounding landscape. (The “rule of
thumb” is 3.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet.)
Other factors that help determine climate
are wind and water currents, recurring
phenomena such as El Nino, and large
landforms.

5. World Climate PatternsWorld Climate Patterns
Geographers divide the world into major climate regions.
The major climate regions are tropical, dry, midlatitude, high
latitude and highland climates. Each of these can be broken
down into smaller categories.
Each climate region
has its own
characteristic
natural vegetation.
Climate patterns
change over time
as a result of both
natural processes
and human activity.

6. Latitude, Elevation, and ClimateLatitude, Elevation, and Climate
 Latitude and elevation affect theLatitude and elevation affect the
angle of the sunangle of the sun’’s rays ands rays and
temperatures on Earthtemperatures on Earth
 Low latitudes include the Tropic ofLow latitudes include the Tropic of
Capricorn, the Equator, and theCapricorn, the Equator, and the
Tropic of Cancer.Tropic of Cancer.
 The EarthThe Earth’’s polar areas ares polar areas are
considered the high latitudes.considered the high latitudes.

7. Latitude, Elevation, and ClimateLatitude, Elevation, and Climate
(cont.)(cont.)
 Mid latitudes:Mid latitudes:
 Between 30 degrees N and 60Between 30 degrees N and 60
degrees N in the Northerndegrees N in the Northern
Hemisphere, and between 30Hemisphere, and between 30
degrees S and 60 degrees S in thedegrees S and 60 degrees S in the
Southern Hemisphere, areSouthern Hemisphere, are
considered the mid latitudes.considered the mid latitudes.
 The most variable weather is foundThe most variable weather is found
here.here.

8. Elevation:Elevation:
 At all latitudes, elevation influencesAt all latitudes, elevation influences
climate because of the relationshipclimate because of the relationship
between the elevation of a place andbetween the elevation of a place and
its temperature.its temperature.
 As elevation increases, temperatureAs elevation increases, temperature
decreasesdecreases
The Influence of Elevation on Temperature

11.  Why does thinner air retain lessWhy does thinner air retain less
heat?heat?
 A.A. It is more denseIt is more dense
 B.B. It is less denseIt is less dense

12. Winds and Ocean CurrentsWinds and Ocean Currents
Wind and water combine with theWind and water combine with the
effects of the sun to influenceeffects of the sun to influence
EarthEarth’’s weather and climate.s weather and climate.
 Wind Patterns:Wind Patterns:
– Wind blows because of temperatureWind blows because of temperature
differences on Earthdifferences on Earth’’s surface, withs surface, with
tropical air moving toward the Polestropical air moving toward the Poles
and polar air moving toward theand polar air moving toward the
Equator.Equator.

13. Winds and Ocean CurrentsWinds and Ocean Currents
– Global winds blow in fairly constantGlobal winds blow in fairly constant
patterns called prevailing winds.patterns called prevailing winds.
– The Coriolis effect causes prevailingThe Coriolis effect causes prevailing
winds to blow diagonally rather thanwinds to blow diagonally rather than
along strict north-south or east-westalong strict north-south or east-west
directions.directions.

14. Winds and Ocean CurrentsWinds and Ocean Currents
 The Horse Latitudes:The Horse Latitudes:
 When sailors became stranded in theWhen sailors became stranded in the
doldrums, they would lighten thedoldrums, they would lighten the
load of the ships, including livestock,load of the ships, including livestock,
so that a light breeze could moveso that a light breeze could move
them.them.
 These areas then became known asThese areas then became known as
the horse latitudes.the horse latitudes.

15. Ocean currents are caused byOcean currents are caused by
factors such as:factors such as:
 the Earththe Earth’’s rotations rotation
 changes in air pressurechanges in air pressure
 differences in water temperaturedifferences in water temperature
 The Coriolis effect is observed inThe Coriolis effect is observed in
ocean currents as well.ocean currents as well.
 Ocean currents affect climate in theOcean currents affect climate in the
coastal lands along which they flow.coastal lands along which they flow.

18. Weather and Water CycleWeather and Water Cycle
– Wind and water work together toWind and water work together to
affect weather—driven byaffect weather—driven by
temperature, condensation createstemperature, condensation creates
precipitationprecipitation
 El Niño is a periodic change in theEl Niño is a periodic change in the
pattern of ocean currents, waterpattern of ocean currents, water
temperatures and weather in thetemperatures and weather in the
mid-Pacific region. It can influencemid-Pacific region. It can influence
climates around the world.climates around the world.

20. El NiñoEl Niño
 A periodic reversal of the pattern ofA periodic reversal of the pattern of
ocean currents and waterocean currents and water

21. QuestionQuestion
 A periodic change in the patternA periodic change in the pattern
of ocean currents, waterof ocean currents, water
temperatures, and weather intemperatures, and weather in
the mid-Pacific region is knownthe mid-Pacific region is known
as which term?as which term?
 A.A. DoldrumsDoldrums
 B.B. CurrentCurrent
 C.C. Prevailing WindsPrevailing Winds
 D.D. El NiñoEl Niño

22. QuestionQuestion
 Which climate would you preferWhich climate would you prefer
to live in?to live in?
 A.A. Tropical climateTropical climate
 B.B. Dry climateDry climate
 C.C. Midlatitude climateMidlatitude climate

23. RegionsRegions
Geographers divide the Earth intoGeographers divide the Earth into
regions that have similarregions that have similar
climates.climates.
 Each of these divisions has its ownEach of these divisions has its own
characteristic soils and naturalcharacteristic soils and natural
vegetation.vegetation.

24. Climate RegionsClimate Regions
 Climates are organized into fiveClimates are organized into five
regions:regions:
– Tropical climates—these are found inTropical climates—these are found in
or near the low latitudes—theor near the low latitudes—the
Tropics.Tropics.
 Tropical wetTropical wet
 Tropical dryTropical dry

25. More about ClimatesMore about Climates
– Dry climates—there are two types ofDry climates—there are two types of
dry climates—the desert and thedry climates—the desert and the
steppe—which occur in low latitudessteppe—which occur in low latitudes
or midlatitudes.or midlatitudes.
– Midlatitude climates—this climateMidlatitude climates—this climate
experiences variable weatherexperiences variable weather
patterns and season changes thatpatterns and season changes that
give rise to a variety of naturalgive rise to a variety of natural
vegetation.vegetation.

26. Temperate climate regionsTemperate climate regions
 There are four temperate climateThere are four temperate climate
regionsregions
 Marine west coast climateMarine west coast climate
 MediterraneanMediterranean
 Humid subtropicalHumid subtropical
 Humid continentalHumid continental

27. High Latitude Climate RegionsHigh Latitude Climate Regions
 High latitude climates—freezingHigh latitude climates—freezing
temperatures are commontemperatures are common
throughout the year because of thethroughout the year because of the
lack of direct sunlight.lack of direct sunlight.
 Three high altitude climate regionsThree high altitude climate regions
are:are:
 SubarcticSubarctic
 TundraTundra
 Ice capIce cap

30. Rain ShadowRain Shadow
 Warm air crosses the ocean and theWarm air crosses the ocean and the
land picks up water vaporland picks up water vapor
1

31. Rain ShadowRain Shadow
 As the warm air filled with water vapor reachesAs the warm air filled with water vapor reaches
UtahUtah’’s Mountains, climbs to go over mountain. airs Mountains, climbs to go over mountain. air
rises, it cools and cannot hold as much waterrises, it cools and cannot hold as much water
vapor. Vapor condenses and falls as rain or snowvapor. Vapor condenses and falls as rain or snow
on mountains.on mountains.
2

32. Rain ShadowRain Shadow
 When air reaches the far side of theWhen air reaches the far side of the
mountain it has already lost much of itsmountain it has already lost much of its
water vapor. The dry side of thewater vapor. The dry side of the
mountain is called the rain shadow.mountain is called the rain shadow.
3

35. Prevailing WindPrevailing Wind
Wind in a region that blows in aWind in a region that blows in a
fairly constant directional patternfairly constant directional pattern

36. Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effect
 The resulting diagonal movement,The resulting diagonal movement,
either north or south, of prevailingeither north or south, of prevailing
winds caused by the Earthwinds caused by the Earth’’s rotations rotation

37. DoldrumsDoldrums
 A frequently windless area near theA frequently windless area near the
EquatorEquator

38. CurrentCurrent
 Cold or warm stream of seawaterCold or warm stream of seawater
that flows in the oceans, generally inthat flows in the oceans, generally in
a circular patterna circular pattern

39. WindwardWindward
 Being in or facing the direction fromBeing in or facing the direction from
which the wind is blowingwhich the wind is blowing

40. WindwardWindward
 being in or facing the direction frombeing in or facing the direction from
which the wind is blowingwhich the wind is blowing

41. LeewardLeeward
 Being in or facing the directionBeing in or facing the direction
toward which the wind is blowingtoward which the wind is blowing

42. Rain Shadow EffectRain Shadow Effect
 Result of a process by which dryResult of a process by which dry
areas develop on the leeward sidesareas develop on the leeward sides
of mountain rangesof mountain ranges

43. Natural VegetationNatural Vegetation
 Plant life that grows in a certain areaPlant life that grows in a certain area
if people have not changed theif people have not changed the
natural environmentnatural environment

44. OasisOasis
 Small area in a desert where waterSmall area in a desert where water
and vegetation are foundand vegetation are found

45. ConiferousConiferous
 Referring to vegetation having conesReferring to vegetation having cones
and needle-shaped leaves, includingand needle-shaped leaves, including
many evergreens, that keep theirmany evergreens, that keep their
foliage throughout the winterfoliage throughout the winter

46. DeciduousDeciduous
 Falling off or shed seasonally orFalling off or shed seasonally or
periodically; trees such as oak andperiodically; trees such as oak and
maple which lose their leaves inmaple which lose their leaves in
autumnautumn

47. Mixed ForestMixed Forest
 Forest with both coniferous andForest with both coniferous and
deciduous treesdeciduous trees

48. PrairiePrairie
 AAn inland grassland arean inland grassland area

49. PermafrostPermafrost
 PPermanently frozen layer of soilermanently frozen layer of soil
beneath the surface of the groundbeneath the surface of the ground

50. HypothesisHypothesis
 A scientific explanation for an eventA scientific explanation for an event

51. SmogSmog
 Haze caused by the interaction ofHaze caused by the interaction of
ultraviolet solar radiation withultraviolet solar radiation with
chemical fumes from automobilechemical fumes from automobile
exhausts and other pollution sourcesexhausts and other pollution sources

52. Factors of ClimateFactors of Climate
 LatitudeLatitude
 ElevationElevation
 ContinentalityContinentality
 LandformsLandforms
 Winds and currents (inc. El Nino)Winds and currents (inc. El Nino)