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What Causes Climate?
Climate Regions
Latitude
Climates of locations near the equator are warmer than
climates of areas far from the equator. The tropical zone is
the area near the equator, between 23.5 degrees north and
south attitude.
Climate and Climate Change
The areas near both poles have cold climates. These polar
zones extend from about 66.5 degrees to 90 degrees north
and south latitudes.
Climate and Climate Change
Between the tropical zones and the polar zones are the
temperate zones. The weather in the temperate zones
ranges from warm to hot in summer to cool or cold in winter.
Climate and Climate Change
The centers of North America and Asia are too far inland to
be affected by the ocean. Continental climates have more
extreme temperatures than marine climates. Winters are cold
while summers are warm or hot.
Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate?
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents have a significant effect on marine climates
around the world.
Climate and Climate Change
Rain Shadow
A mountain range can form a barrier to the movement of air
masses and influence where precipitation falls. Rain or snow
falls on the windward side of the mountains, the side the
wind hits. The land on the leeward side of the mountains –
downwind – is in a rain shadow.
Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate?
Monsoons
In a summer monsoon, wind blows from the ocean onto land. In the
winter, the monsoon reverses and blows from land to the ocean.
Summer monsoon is commonly called monsoon season and is the
time when there is heavy rain and weather.
Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate?
Percentages
Light from the sun strikes Earth’s surface at different angles.
An angle is made up of two lines that meet at a point. Angles
are measured in degrees. A full circle has 360 degrees.
When the sun is directly overhead near the equator, it is at an
angle of 90º to Earth’s surface. A 90º angle is called a right
angle. What percentage of a circle is it?
Percentages
Practice Problem
The Seasons
The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as
Earth travels around the sun.
Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate?
Building Vocabulary
After you read the section, reread the paragraphs that contain
definitions of Key Terms. Use what you have learned to write
a meaningful sentence using each Key Term.
Key Terms: Examples:
climate
temperate
leeward zone The landrefers
Climate
Between on
thethe
tropical
toleeward
the zones
average,
side
and
ofyear-after-year
the
the polar
mountains—
zones are
conditions
the
downwind—is
temperate of temperature,
inzones.
a rain shadow.
precipitation, winds, and
marine climate
monsoon clouds
Northand
Sea in land
an area.
America, South America,
breezes over a largeandregion
Europe have
that mild
change
microclimate marine
directionclimates,
withwith
A small area with relatively
the seasons
climate mildthat
are called
conditions winters
differand
monsoons. cool
from
summers.
those around it may have its own microclimate.
continental climate
tropical zone Continental
The tropical climates have
zone is the areamore
nearextreme
the equator,
temperatures
between aboutthan marine
23.5º north climates.
latitude and 23.5º south
windward latitude.
Rain or snow falls on the windward side of the
polar zone These polarthe
mountains, zones
side extend
the windfrom
hits.about 66.5º to 90º
north and 66.5º to 90º south latitudes.
Climate and Climate Change
End of Section:
What Causes
Climate?
Climate and Climate Change
Climate Regions
Climate Regions
Climate regions are
classified according to a
combination of
temperature and
precipitation. Climates in
highland regions change
rapidly as altitude changes.
Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions
Climate Regions
There are six main climate
regions: tropical rainy, dry,
temperate marine, temperate
continental, polar and
highlands.
Climate and Climate Change
Tropical Wet
In areas that have a tropical wet climate, many days are rainy, often
with afternoon thunderstorms. Rain forests are forests in which
large amounts of rain fall year round.
Climate and Climate Change
Climate Graphs
A graph of average temperature (left) can be combined with
a graph of average precipitation (middle) to form a climate
graph. These graphs are for a tropical wet-and-dry region.
Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions
Dry Climates
Dry climates include arid and semiarid climates. They are
usually hot and dry areas.
Climate and Climate Change
Arid
On average, arid regions, or deserts, get less than 25 cm of
rain a year. Some deserts are hot and sandy, but others are
cold and rocky.
Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions
Humid Subtropical
Humid subtropical climates are wet and warm, but not as
constantly hot as the tropics.
Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions
Highlands
Temperature falls as altitude increases, so highland
regions are colder than the regions that surround them.
Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions
End of Section:
Climate Regions
Climate and Climate Change
Ice Ages
Over millions of years, warm periods have swapped with cold periods
known as ice ages, or glacial episodes. During each ice age, huge
sheets of ice called glaciers covered large parts of Earth’s surface.
Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate
Ice Ages
The map shows the parts of North America that were
covered by glaciers 18,000 years ago. On the steppe near
the glaciers lived many mammals that are now extinct,
including woolly mammoths.
Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate
Solar Energy
Short- term changes in climate have been linked to changes in the
number of sunspots – dark, cooler regions on the surface of the sun.
Climate and Climate Change
Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate
Moving Continents
The continents have moved over millions of years. These
movements have resulted in climate changes.
Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate
Tree rings
Hypothesis
Evidence of past
glaciers
Climate and Climate Change
End of Section:
Long-Term
Changes in
Climate
Climate and Climate Change
El Niῆo
The warm-water event known as El Niῆo begins when unusual patterns
of winds forms over the western Pacific. This causes a vast sheet of
warm water to move east toward the South American coast.
Climate and Climate Change
Climate and Climate Change
La Niῆa
Global Warming
Most changes in world climates are caused by natural factors. Recently
scientists have observed climate changes that could be the result of
human activities. The gradual increase in the temperature of Earth’s
atmosphere is called global warming.
Climate and Climate Change
Climate and Climate Change
Climate and Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect
Sunlight enters a greenhouse and is absorbed. The interior
of the greenhouse radiates back energy in the form of
infrared radiation, or heat. Much of the heat is trapped and
held inside the greenhouse, warming it.
Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere
Global Warming
Scientists think that an increase in carbon dioxide in the air is
a major factor in global warming.
Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere
Chlorofluorocarbons
A major cause of ozone depletion is a group of compounds called
chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. They were used in air conditioners and
refrigerators, as cleaners for electronic parts, and in aerosol sprays,
such as deodorants.
Climate and Climate Change
Climate and Climate Change
Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere
Asking Questions
Before you read, preview the red headings. Ask a what or
how question for each heading. As you read, write answers
to your questions.
Questions Answers
What is the greenhouse The process by which
effect? gases in Earth’s
atmosphere trap solar
energy
End of Section:
Global Changes
in the
Atmosphere
Climate and Climate Change
Graphic Organizer
Climate
is determined by
Temperature Precipitation
is affected by is affected by
Latitude Altitude
Distance Ocean Prevailing Mountain
from water currents winds ranges
Climate and Climate Change
End of Section:
Graphic Organizer