WEATHER vs. CLIMATEChapter 3

SeasonsWhat causes them?

The earth’s tilt (pg 49)Solstice: sun’s rays are directly overhead at

noonTropic of Cancer Tropic of CapricornMark beginning of summer and winter

Equinox: days and nights are equal in length all over the worldMark beginning of spring and autumn

WEATHER vs. CLIMATEDefinition: condition of

atmosphere at a particular location and time

“What you get”

Definition: conditions of

atmosphere at a particular location over a long period of time

“What you expect”

Factors that Influence Weather

1. Amount of solar energy- air masses absorb energy

2. Water vapor- determines precipitation3. Cloud cover- hold water vapor4. Landforms/bodies of water:

water heats slow and loses slowLand heats fast and loses fast

5. Elevation- higher air loses ability to hold moisture

6. Wind

Precipitation (pg 50)As warm air rises, it cools and loses it’s

ability to hold water vapor. This forms clouds, which eventually become too heavy. RAIN/ SNOW

#1 Convectional: sun heats ground in morning, air rises, and afternoon clouds form rain ( tropical/hot climates)

#2 Orographic: more rain falls on the windward side of a mountain as wind is blocked and forced upward. The leeward side gets very little rain (rain shadow).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9OcU2fm6U

#3 Frontal: lighter air is pushed upward by colder, denser air. As it cools, it condenses and rain falls.

Front: boundary between two air masses of different temps.

WEATHER EXTREMES1. Hurricane/typhoons: storms that form over

warm, tropical ocean waters. Use warm water as energy Regions of low atmospheric pressure They spin different

directions in the N & S Hemispheres

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCIq-3dy3-scCFUiQDQodcj8Iew&url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/weathermatrix/remembering-hurricane-katrina/17173337&bvm=bv.102537793,bs.1,d.eXY&psig=AFQjCNFpWL4zGQsdobcN8rkvx01VBQp3-g&ust=1442454436393192

2. Tornadoes: (twisters) powerful funnel-shaped columns of spiraling air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G3r6o2eTSw

3. Blizzard: heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 mph and reduced visibility.

4. Drought: long period of time without rain or with very minimal rainfall.

5. Floods: water spreads over land not normally covered by water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73P09rTEc4g

CLIMATE

Factors that Influence Climate1. Wind Currents: Wind is the flow of a huge

amount of air, usually from a high pressure area to a low pressure area.

High= COLD Low= WARM

Coriolis Effect (bending of winds)

Hot air flows towards the poles and cold air moves to the equator.

Earth’s rotation makes the winds bendN= RightS = Left

H

L

H

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBqohRu2RRk

2. Ocean Currents: rivers flowing in the ocean

Remember me???

SAME as winds: warm water flows to poles, cold water flows to equator

In Northern Hemisphere

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCJz83tHD_8cCFQnLgAodNeQI_w&url=http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/tbw/wc.notes/3.temperature/ocean_currents.htm&bvm=bv.102829193,d.eXY&psig=AFQjCNFKgoEC8w6E8-g-Wt42s_oq-BaJug&ust=1442629446314089

Wind + Ocean = changing temperatures and rainfall

Europe temperature is warmer than Canada even though they are at the same latitude

Cold ocean currents keep warm air from rising = desert

3. Zones of Latitude:

Tropical (low)

Temperate (middle)

Polar (high)

Polar (high)

4. Elevation: distance above sea levelair temp. decreases as you go higher

5. Topography: landforms (natural formations on earth)

Climate Change: True or FalseTRUE. It’s a fact that climates change over

time. Climate change is both naturally occurring and human caused.

The FactsOn average, air temperatures are increasingSince 1800’s the temp of earth has increased

ONE degree FahrenheitScientists believe an increase of 3.2-7.2 is

possible in this century (100 years)Greenhouse effect

The Greenhouse EffectDefinition: gases in the atmosphere that trap

heat, which causes higher temperatures on EarthGases caused by burning coal, oil, methane,

etc.

One last question…..

Does the food you eat cause global warming????