Chapter 8 – Climate

Lesson 1- Climates of Earth

What is climate?
Climate – is the long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular
region.
Weather – describes the atmospheric conditions and short-term changes of a
certain place at a certain time.

What affects the climate change?

The latitude of a location affects climate. Areas close to the equator have the
warmest climates. Large bodies of water, including lakes and oceans, also
influence the climate of a region. Weather is more constant throughout the year.
The altitude of an area affects climate.
Latitude – increases from 0˚ to 90˚ as you move toward the North pole or the
south pole. The amount of solar energy per unit of Earth’s surface area depends
on latitude.
Altitude – temperature decreases as altitude increases in the troposphere.
Rain Shadow – an area of low rainfall on the downwind slope of a mountain.
Mountains influence climate because they are barriers to prevailing winds.

Large bodies of water

Oceans cover almost 75% of the Earth’s surface and play a major role in
modifying weather and climate.
Specific Heat – is the amount (joules) of thermal energy needed to raise the
temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1˚C.
The specific heat of water is about six times higher than the specific heat of
sand.
High specific heat of water causes the climates along coastlines to remain more
constant than those in the middle of a continent.
Ocean currents can also modify climate.

World Climates
Polar Climate
 cold year-round
 minimal precipitation
 Continental Climate
 Warm summers, cold winters
 Moderate precipitation

Dry Climate Tropical Climate

 hot summers, cooler  Warm year-round
winters  High precipitation
 very low precipitation
Tropical Climates
Mild Climate  Tropical wet
 Warm summers, mild  Tropical wet and dry
winters Mild Climates
 High precipitation
 Mediterranean
 Humid
 Humid subtropical
 Marine west coast
Dry Climates
In 1918, German Scientist
Wladimir Koppen developed a  Semiarid
system for classifying the  Arid
world’s many climates. Continental Climates
 Warm summer
Microclimate is a localized  Cool summer
climate that is different from the  Subarctic
climate of the larger area
surrounding it. Polar climates
 Tundra
Climates influences climate,
 Ice cap
animals, and humans.  Highland