Guiding Questions: Climate Notes

Section 14.1 What is Climate?

1. Define climatology.
Long-term weather patterns of an area.
2. What factors does climate include in addition to
average weather conditions?
Annual variations of temperature, precipitation,
wind, and other variables.
3. Give two examples of how climatic data can be
used.
The warmest and coldest temperatures ever
recorded for a location.
4. Why must we exercise caution when using
normals to predict weather?
We must exercise caution because you want to
receive the correct data.
5. What factors cause climate?
Latitude, topography, closeness of lakes and
oceans, availability to moisture, global wind
patterns, ocean currents, and wind mass.
6. Why are coastal areas cooler in the summer than
inland areas?
They do not receive as much solar radiation.
7. Describe the relationship between temperature
and altitude.
They are opposites if one increases the other
decrease.

8. Figure 14-3 depicts what effect of orographic

lifting that we discussed last Friday? (HINT:
return to those notes!)
Mountain or slope orographic lifting the moist
air is forced up the mountain, it cools and
condenses, and releases precipitation. The air on
the opposite side of the mountain is very dry.
Also, lightning and thunderstorms.
Section 14.2 Climate Classification
1. Name the system used to classify climates. What
factors does it consider?
The Korppen Classification System is used to
classify system for climates. The different climatic
zones.
2. List the six main climate types.
Tropical, dry, mild, continental, polar,
microclimate.
3. What climate type do we live in? List its
characteristics
We live in a mild climate. Some of its
characteristics are warm, muggy during the
warmer months and dry, cool conditions during
the winter months.
4. What is a microclimate? Give an example.
A localized climate that differs from the main
regional climate. Different spots in the ocean.

5. What is the heat island effect and where does it

occur?
A heat island is where there is a presence of many
concrete buildings and large expanse of asphalt
that release heat. Large urban and suburban areas.

Guiding Questions: Climate Notes

Section 14.1 What is Climate?
1. Define climatology.
2. What factors does climate include in addition
to average weather conditions?
3. Give two examples of how climatic data can
be used.
4. Why must we exercise caution when using
normals to predict weather?
5. What factors cause climate?
6. Why are coastal areas cooler in the summer
than inland areas?
7. Describe the relationship between temperature
and altitude.
8. Figure 14-3 depicts what effect of orographic
lifting that we discussed last Friday? (HINT:
return to those notes!)
Section 14.2 Climate Classification

1. Name the system used to classify climates. What

factors does it consider?
2. List the six main climate types.
3. What climate type do we live in? List its
characteristics.
4. What is a microclimate? Give an example.
5. What is the heat island effect and where does
it occur?