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CHAPTER 3
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1 What Is Climate?
National Science Education Standards
ES 1f, 1j, 3d

Climate

BEFORE YOU READ

After you read this section, you should be able to answer these questions:

What is climate? What factors affect climate? How do climates differ around the world?

What Is Climate?
How is weather different from climate? Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time. The weather can change from day to day. In contrast, climate describes the average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time. The climate of an area includes the areas average temperature and amount of precipitation. Different parts of the world have different climates.
STUDY TIP
Ask Questions As you read this section, write down any questions that you have. When you nish reading, talk about your questions in a small group.

What Factors Affect Climate?

Climate is mainly determined by temperature and precipitation. Many factors affect temperature and precipitation, including latitude, wind patterns, landforms, and ocean currents.
SOLAR ENERGY AND LATITUDE

READING CHECK 1. List What are the two main things that determine climate?

Remember that the latitude of an area is its distance north or south of the equator. In general, the temperature of an area depends on its latitude. Latitudes closer to the poles tend to have colder climates. Latitude affects temperature because latitude determines how much direct solar energy an area gets, as shown in the figure below.

TAKE A LOOK

2. Explain Why do areas near the equator tend to have high temperatures?

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What Is Climate? continued

LATITUDE AND SEASONS

STANDARDS CHECK
ES 3d The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the earths surface, such as growth of plants, winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle. Seasons result from variations in the amount of the suns energy hitting the surface, due to the tilt of the earths rotation on its axis and the length of the day.

Word Help: major of great importance or large scale Word Help: energy the ability to make things happen Word Help: phenomenon any fact or event that can be sensed or described scientically (plural, phenomena) 3. Explain Why dont areas near the equator have large seasonal changes in weather?

Most places in the United States have four seasons during the year. However, some places in the world do not have such large seasonal changes. For example, places near the equator have about the same temperatures and amounts of daylight all year. Seasons happen because Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.5. This tilt affects how much solar energy an area gets as Earth orbits the sun. The figure below shows how Earths tilt affects the seasons.
Winter During its winter, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. It receives less direct sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, the Northern Hemisphere experiences lower temperatures and shorter days.

March 21 Spring

June 21 Summer

December 21 Winter

Summer During its summer, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. It receives more direct sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, the Northern Hemisphere experiences warmer temperatures and longer days.

September 22 Fall Areas near the equator do not tilt toward or away from the sun very much. Therefore, they do not experience large changes in weather during the year.

PREVAILING WINDS

READING CHECK 4. Identify What causes wind to form?

Prevailing winds are winds that blow mainly in one direction. The wind patterns on Earth are caused by the uneven heating of Earths surface. This uneven heating forms areas with different air pressures. Wind forms when air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Prevailing winds affect climate and weather because they move solar energy from one place to another. This can cause the temperature in one place to decrease and the temperature in another place to increase. Prevailing winds also affect the amount of precipitation an area gets. They can carry water vapor away from the oceans. The water vapor can condense and fall to the land somewhere far from the ocean. The figure on top of the next page shows the major prevailing winds on Earth. Notice that most prevailing winds blow from west to east or from east to west.

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What Is Climate? continued

90N
Polar easterlies Polar easterlies

60N Prevailing westerlies Prevailing westerlies 30N

Trade winds

0 Equator

Trade winds

Trade winds

Trade winds

30S Prevailing Prevailing westerlies westerlies 60S Polar Polar easterlies easterlies 90S Wind direction

TAKE A LOOK

5. Read a Map In which direction do the Prevailing Westerlies blow?

TOPOGRAPHY

The sizes and shapes of the land-surface features of a region form its topography. The topography of an area affects its climate because topography can affect temperature and precipitation. For example, elevation is a feature of topography that can have a large impact on temperature. Elevation is the height of an area above sea level. As elevation increases, temperature tends to decrease. Mountains can also affect precipitation. As air rises to move over a mountain, it cools. The cool air condenses, forming clouds. Precipitation may fall. This process causes the rain-shadow effect, which is illustrated in the figure below.
Air rises to flow over mountains. The air cools as it rises, and water vapor can condense to form clouds. The clouds can release the water as precipitation. Therefore, this side of the mountain tends to be wetter, with more vegetation. The air on this side of the mountain contains much less water vapor. As the air sinks down the side of the mountain, it becomes warmer. The warm air absorbs moisture from the land. Therefore, this side of the mountain tends to be drier and more desert-like.

READING CHECK 6. Describe In general, how does elevation affect temperature?

ea07ci_clm000303a first pass Steve Toole 1/18/06

TAKE A LOOK

7. Explain Why do clouds form as air moves over a mountain?

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What Is Climate? continued

LARGE WATER BODIES

READING CHECK 8. Explain Why arent sudden temperature changes common near large bodies of water?

Large bodies of water can affect an areas climate. Water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land. This quality helps regulate the air temperature over the land nearby. This is why sudden temperature changes are not very common in areas near large bodies of water. An example of this effect is the climate of Michigan. Michigan is surrounded by the Great Lakes. It has moremoderate temperatures than other places at the same latitude. However, the lakes also increase the humidity of the air. This can cause heavy snowfalls in the winter.
OCEAN CURRENTS

9. Describe Processes Cool surface currents can cause the air above them to become cooler. Explain how this happens.

Critical Thinking

Surface currents can have a big effect on a regions climate. Surface currents are paths of flowing water found near the surface of the ocean. As surface currents move, they carry warm or cool water to different places. The temperature of the water affects the temperature of the air above it. For example, warm currents can heat the surrounding air. An example of the effects of ocean currents on climate can be seen in Iceland. Iceland is an island near the Arctic Circle. The Gulf Stream, a warm surface current, flows past Iceland. The warm water in the Gulf Stream causes Icelands climate to be fairly mild. In contrast, the island of Greenland is at a similar latitude but is not affected by the Gulf Stream. Greenlands climate is much colder than Icelands.
Arctic Ocean

North America
North Pacific Ocean North Atlantic Ocean

Europe Asia Africa

Equator Indian Ocean South Atlantic Ocean

South America

TAKE A LOOK

10. Identify What kind of surface current is found off the East Coast of the United States?

South Pacific Ocean

Australia

Antarctica Warm current Cold current

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Current labels are 8 pt Formata Regular Ocean labels are 8 pt Formata Regular italic Country labels are 9 pt Formata Medium

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What Is Climate? continued

What Are the Different Climates Around the World?

Earth has three major climate zones: tropical, temperate, and polar. The figure below shows where these zones are found.
Polar
66.5N

Temperate
23.5N

Tropical
0

Earths three major climate zones are determined by latitude.

Tropical
23.5S

TAKE A LOOK

Temperate
66.5S

11. Identify What determines Earths major climate zones?

Polar

Each climate zone has a certain range of temperatures. The tropical zone, near the equator, has the highest temperatures. The polar zones, located at latitudes above 66.5, have the lowest temperatures.
BIOMES

READING CHECK 12. Describe Which climate zone has the highest temperatures?

Each climate zone contains several different kinds of climates. The different climates are the result of topography, winds, and ocean currents. The different climates affect the organisms that live in an area. A large area with a certain climate and types of organisms is called a biome.

READING CHECK 13. Identify Relationships How are biomes and climate related?

Equator

Polar ice Temperate grassland Tundra Savanna Coniferous forest Desert Tropical rain forest Chaparral Temperate deciduous forest Mountains This map shows some of the major land biomes on Earth.

TAKE A LOOK

14. Explain Where are most tropical rain forest biomes located?

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Section 1 Review
SECTION VOCABULARY
biome a large region characterized by a specic type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities climate the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time elevation the height of an object above sea level latitude the distance north or south from the equator; expressed in degrees

NSES

ES 1f, 1j, 3d

prevailing winds winds that blow mainly from one direction during a given period surface current a horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind and that occurs at or near the oceans surface weather the short-term state of the atmosphere, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility

1. Compare How is climate different from weather?

2. Apply Concepts Nome, Alaska, lies at 64N latitude. San Diego, California, lies at

32N latitude. Which city receives more sunlight? Explain your answer.

3. Explain What causes some places on Earth to have seasons?

4. Identify What are four things that can affect climate?

5. Explain Describe how the rain-shadow effect works.

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Climate

Weather and Climate Answer Key continued

2. The balloons transmit the data using radio 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Review 1. A front is a place where two air masses meet. 2. First row, from left to right: rises and cools;

cloudy, rainy, and stormy Second row, from left to right: ... higher than surrounding pressure; dry and clear 3. cold, warm, occluded, stationary 4. Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico 5. cT

SECTION 3 SEVERE WEATHER

1. It must contain enough water vapor to form 2.

signals. Possible answer: Wind direction can indicate which way a weather system is moving. a device that measures wind speed Locate weather systems; determine how much precipitation is being produced. NWS, NOAA 27F No, because the air temperature is above the dew point (temperature). The three Hs on the map should be circled.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

clouds. Electricity travels between an area with a positive charge and an area with a negative charge. sound produced by vibrations in expanding air that was superheated by lightning The center of the tornado has low pressure. when it touches the ground 74 mph to 112 mph Ocean water is too cold there. the Coriolis effect the center of the hurricane that contains warm, fairly calm air with low pressure a rise in sea level because of a storm to learn where the storm is and whether it is getting worse

Review 1. An anemometer measures wind speed; wind-

2. 3.

4. 5.

socks and wind vanes measure only wind direction. temperature, pressure, relative humidity tracking storms, imaging weather systems, measuring wind speed/humidity/temperature from different altitudes Station A has higher air temperatures and higher wind speeds. Station A: southwest Station B: north

Chapter 3 Climate
SECTION 1 WHAT IS CLIMATE?
1. temperature and precipitation 2. The suns energy is focused on a small area. 3. The equator receives about the same 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Review 1. Lightning superheats the air to produce 2. 3. 4.

5.

6. 7.

thunder. They can produce strong winds, tornadoes, hail, or flash floods. in the United States Cold, dry air from Canada meets warm, moist air from the Tropics, producing thunderstorms. Solar energy causes water to evaporate. As it rises, cools, and condenses, it releases the energy. Thunderstorms form, which can combine to form hurricanes. when they move over cooler water or land If you are outside, stay away from tall objects that can attract lightning. If you are in the open, crouch down. Stay away from water.

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

SECTION 4 FORECASTING THE WEATHER

1. information on atmospheric conditions
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amount of sunlight all year round. differences in air pressure west to east Temperature decreases as elevation increases. The air cools as it rises and drops below its dew point. Water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land, so the water helps to stabilize the temperatures on land. The cool water absorbs heat from the air, causing the temperature of the air to decrease. a warm current latitude tropical zone The climate of an area affects the organisms that live there. along the equator
Weather and Climate

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Weather and Climate Answer Key continued

4. No, because it is not located in the Tropics. 5. Africa 6. tropical deserts have the largest temperature

Review 1. Climate describes the average weather con-

2. 3.

4. 5.

ditions in an area over a long period of time. Weather describes the state of the atmosphere in a specific location at a specific point in time. San Diego receives more sunlight because it lies closer to the equator. Earth is tilted on its axis of rotation, causing some areas to receive more sunlight during some parts of the year than during others. latitude, large bodies of water, topography, ocean currents, winds Air rises to move over a mountain. The air cools as it rises, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into clouds. Precipitation falls on the windward side of the mountain, causing the area to have a wet climate. The air rises over the mountain and sinks. As it sinks, it gets warmer and causes water to evaporate from the land on the other side of the mountain. As a result, the far side of the mountain has a dry climate.

range; tropical rain forests have the smallest temperature range.

SECTION 3 TEMPERATE AND POLAR ZONES

1. They all experience seasonal changes in

weather.

2. chaparral 3. They are probably evergreens, because they

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

SECTION 2 THE TROPICS

1. They receive different amounts of rain and 2. 3. 4. 5.

still have leaves in the winter and they are found in a temperate forest. grass waxy coatings on leaves to prevent water loss Possible answer: Temperate deserts have a larger temperature range. North America, Asia, Europe The ice in it melts, but the permafrost prevents the water from draining away. 16 in. to 24 in. the climate of a small area

6. 7.

have different kinds of soil. between 23.5N and 23.5S latitude It gets about the same amount of sunlight all year long. Nutrients are quickly used up by plants or washed away by rain. Possible answer: Many plants would die out because they rely on fires for survival or reproduction. about 3 ft The temperature in a desert can be much lower at night than during the day.

Review 1. temperate forest, temperate grassland, 2. 3.

4.

5.

Review 1. tropical rain forest, tropical desert, tropical

savanna 2. high temperatures 3. First row, from left to right: over 200 cm per year, fern Second row, from left to right: tropical savanna, poor, thorny shrub Third row, from left to right: tropical desert, less than 25 cm per year, scorpion

6. 7.

chaparral, temperate desert between 23.5 and 66.5 north or south latitudes They have clear skies and low humidity. This allows the land to heat up a lot during the day and the heat to move easily into the atmosphere at night. The pavement and other structures in cities absorb solar energy and heat up, causing the climate to be warmer. The main plants in the taiga are evergreens with acidic compounds in their leaves. When the leaves fall to the ground and decay, they make the soils acidic. They both receive little to no precipitation. They do not get enough rain.

SECTION 4 CHANGES IN CLIMATE

1. An ice age is a time period in which glaciers

are found at lower latitudes than at other times. 2. Ocean water freezes to form ice. As a result, global sea level drops, exposing more land.

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Weather and Climate