Climate

Climate the average, year-after-year conditions of temperature, _______________________, winds,

and clouds in an area
Scientists use two main factors to describe a ___________________ region:
1. precipitation
2. temperature
microclimate a small area with climate conditions that are ________________ from those around it
___________________ affecting temperature:
Latitude
Altitude
Distance from large bodies of __________________
Ocean __________________
LATITUDE - Three Climate Zones:
Tropical zone area near the __________________
(between 23.5
0
north latitude to 23.5
0
south latitude)
Receives direct ____________________ throughout entire year
Very warm _____________________
Polar zone extend from about 66.5
0
to 90
0
north and 66.5
0
to 90
0
south __________________
The sun's ____________ strike the poles at a lower __________________
Cold temperatures
1Temperate zone located between the tropical and polar __________________
During ______________________, the sun's rays hit at a more ________________ angle while
during the winter, it hits at a lower angle.
Warm to hot during summer
Cool to cold during _____________________





ALTITUDE
No matter what angle the _____________ rays hit an area, the altitude of the area is a more
important _________________ factor.
For every km increase in __________________, the temperature decreases about __________
Example Mt _______________________ is located near the equator, but at it's _____________
(6km altitude) it is about 39
0
C colder than at sea level
DISTANCE FROM LARGE BODIES OF WATER
Climate is affected by how close an area is to an _________________ or large body of water.
Two types:
1. Marine climates areas near ______________ with mild winters and cool __________________
Winds from the bodies of water __________________ extreme hot and cold temperatures
Areas include the __________ coasts of North America, South America, and _______________
2. Continental climates areas _________ away from large bodies of water with colder ___________
and hotter summers
Too far ___________________ from water to be __________________ or cooled by the ocean
Areas include most of the central United States, __________________, and Russia.
OCEAN CURRENTS rivers of water within the oceans that move in regular ___________________
Types of currents:
1. Surface created mainly by __________________
2. Gyres _________________ shaped surface currents
3. Deep Water created by differences in the _________________ of water due to temperature and
the amount of ______________ in the water (also called the Global Conveyor Belt)
Some warm currents move from the equator toward the poles
They warm the air above it and it moves over nearby ______________.
Some cold currents ______________ from the poles toward the equator.
They ________________ the air above it and it moves over nearby land
Currents affecting the U.S. ->
Gulf Stream starts in the Gulf of Mexico and brings warm & _________ air along the east coast.
California Current starts near _____________ and brings cool air along the west ___________.

Factors affecting precipitation:
1. Prevailing Winds the _______________________ winds that usually blow in a region
Winds that blow _________________ from bodies of water carry lots of water _____________
which leads to greater precipitation
2. Mountain Ranges
When _____________ blows from bodies of water and it ________________ on the windward
side of the mountain, precipitation falls on that side only.
The leeward side of the mountain is usually ___________ because all moisture is gone from
the wind passing ________________ the mountains
(called a rain shadow effect)
3. Seasonal Winds a ___________________change in wind patterns
Monsoons sea and land breezes over a large region that change direction with the seasons
Sea breeze monsoons usually have a full season of _______________ precipitation like rainfall.
Land breeze ______________________ have a full season of very __________ air.

The seasons are caused by the __________________ of the Earth's axis as it travels around the
_______________.