LACEMOPSLACEMOPSFactors That Affect ClimateFactors That Affect Climate

llhammonllhammon Strategy

Give me a “L” (latitude)Give me a “L” (latitude)

Give me an “A” (air masses)Give me an “A” (air masses)

An air mass is a large (usually thousands of miles across) volume of air that has horizontally uniform properties in terms of temperature, and to a lesser extent humidity

Give me a “C” (continentality)Give me a “C” (continentality)

A measure of how the climate of a place is affected by its remoteness from the oceans and oceanic air. The difference between the average temperatures prevailing in

January and July is most often quoted as an indicator of this.

Give me an “E” (elevation) Give me an “E” (elevation)

At higher altitudes, temperatures grow colder by approximately 4 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet. This cooling effect stems from low atmospheric pressure -- with less air

to push down on the mountains, the air molecules spread out and lose energy.

Give me a “M” (mountain barriers)Give me a “M” (mountain barriers)

The air that descends from the mountain warms up and vapor pressure increase which results the relatively humid to lower and air becomes drier. thus, mountain barrier can

affect precipitation/winds and these factors affect the climate.

Give me an “O” (ocean currents)Give me an “O” (ocean currents)

An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis effect, forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis effect,

cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sunpull of the Moon and the Sun

Give me a “P” (pressure and wind belts)Give me a “P” (pressure and wind belts)

A pressure belt is an area which has consistently high or low pressure. Winds move from A pressure belt is an area which has consistently high or low pressure. Winds move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The belts tend to move with the seasons, areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The belts tend to move with the seasons,

toward the equator in winter and toward the poles in summer.toward the equator in winter and toward the poles in summer.

Give me a “S” (storms)Give me a “S” (storms)

A storm is any disturbed state of an A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, astronomical body's atmosphere,

especially affecting its surface, and especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather.strongly implying severe weather.

• LL atitude atitude• AA ir Masses ir Masses• CC ontinentality ontinentality• EE levation levation• MM ountain Barriers ountain Barriers• OO cean Currentscean Currents• PP ressure and Wind Belts ressure and Wind Belts• SS torms torms

Introduced by: Introduced by: Dr. James Petersen – Dr. James Petersen – Texas State University – Texas State University – San Marcos, TX, 1990.San Marcos, TX, 1990.

What’s What’s that Spell?that Spell?