Factors that Affect Climate Imaginary Continent Answer Key

The diagram represents an imaginary continent on Earth surrounded by water. The arrows
indicate the direction of the prevailing winds. Two large mountain ranges are shown. Points
A, B, & E are located at sea level; points C & D are in the foothills of the mountains; point F
is high in the mountains.

1. What is the direction of the wind at the following locations?

a. North of 60 N latitude Easterly
b. Between 60 N and 30 N latitude Westerly
c. Between 30 N and the equator Easterly
2. Which city probably has the same type of weather year round? ______E______

Why? City E is on

the equator so there will be little variable in radiation from the sun throughout the year.
3. What factor would cause location F to have a colder yearly climate than any other location?
Although C and D are further from the equator, City F has the highest elevation of all the cities. A
elevation increases, the temperature of the climate tends to decrease.
4. List 2 factors that cause location E to have the greatest annual rainfall?
City E is on the windward side of the mountain range, it has a coastal location, and it is near the equatorial
low pressure system that brings much rain to the tropics (we didnt discuss this in class but I would be a
bad teacher if I didnt at least mention it.).

5. Which location, C or D, do you expect to have the greater annual rainfall? D Why? D is on the windward
side of the mountain range. The moist air from the ocean is forces upward by mountains. The water vapor
condenses into clouds and falls as rain. C would be much drier because the rainfall is blocked by the
mountains.
6. Which location, A or B, do you expect to have the greater range in temperature during the year? A
Why? A is landlocked so its climate is not moderated by large bodies water near it. Landlocked areas
have greater extremes in temperature.

Factors that Influence Climates

Factor

Influence on Temperature

Influence on Precipitation

Latitude

Colder further from equator

(North or South)

Belts of low pressure at 0 and 60 N

and S produce heavy precipitation.
Belts of high pressure centered at 30
N and S produce dry climate, even
deserts.

Nearness to
centers of
large
landmasses

Locations near the center of large

landmasses tend to have wide ranges
in temperatures, both between day
and night and seasonally.

Locations near the center of large

landmasses tend to have drier
climates.

Nearness to
large bodies
of water.

Large bodies of water have a

moderating affect on the temperatures
of coastal areas, producing low
ranges in temperature, both between
day and night and seasonally.
Windward sides are cooled , while
leeward sides are warmed.

Areas near large bodies of water tend

to have higher than average
precipitation.

Location
relative to
mountain
ranges
Elevation
Ocean
Currents
Prevailing
wind
direction

As elevation increases, the average

yearly temperature decreases.
Ocean currents tend to warm
temperature of eastern coastal areas
and cool temperatures of western
coastal areas.
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Windward sides of mountains tend to

receive higher than average
precipitation; leeward sides tend to
receive lower than average
precipitation.
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Wind direction determines the
windward and leeward sides of both
mountain ranges and large bodies of
water.

Source:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/infodata/lesson_plans/Factors%20that%20Affect%20Climate.pdf