Chapter 2
Why is Climate important?
2016-02-23
Key Definitions:
1)
Weather – the short- term conditions
of the air in a particular place and on a particular date. It usually describes
what it is like outside today. It often includes what the temperature is
predicted to be, whether it’s sunny or cloudy and whether there is a chance of
precipitation.
2)
Climate – the average weather of
an area over a long period of time.
3)
Climate Change – changes in the
long-term weather patterns caused by natural events or human activity.
4)
Global Warming – an increase in the
average global temperatures near the Earth’s surface.
5)
Precipitation – any form of water that
falls from the atmosphere.
Types of Precipitation – Rain, snow,
hail, sleet, freezing rain, fog etc.
Climate Regions of the World
1.
Tropical Climate – hot with rain all year
2.
Savanna Climate – hot with dry season
3.
Steppe
Climate –
warm and dry
4.
Desert Climate – hot and very dry
5.
Mild Climate – warm and wet
6.
Continental Climate – dry with cold winter
7.
Subarctic Climate – very cold winter
8.
Polar
Climate –
very cold and dry
9.
Mountainous Climate – altitude affects
climate
Climate Factors
2016-02-23
Global Factors:
Ø Latitude – hottest areas of the
earth are located close to the equator, coolest areas closest to the poles
Ø Wind Systems – there are prevailing
winds at different latitudes. Our prevailing wind system in our area is the
“Prevailing Westerlies”
Ø Air Masses – there are air masses of
different temperatures and pressures that affect climate
Ø Ocean
Currents
– warm and cold ocean currents exist and affect the temperatures of the air
travelling above them
Regional Factors:
Ø Altitude – higher the elevation
the cooler it is
Ø Mountain
Barriers
– orthographic precipitation
Ø Bodies of
Water –
large bodies of water retain heat which affect climate. In the cooler months,
places located close to bodies of water are usually warmer, and in the warmer
months of the year, places are usually cooler than locations not near the
water.
Ø Deserts - areas that have less
than 250mm of total precipitation
