The document discusses the differences between climate and weather and the factors that influence climate. It describes four main factors that determine climate: latitude, atmospheric circulation patterns, ocean circulation patterns, and local geography. Latitude affects climate the most because it determines how direct or concentrated sunlight is in a given area. Atmospheric circulation patterns are influenced by differences in solar heating at various latitudes, which drives global wind and precipitation patterns. Ocean circulation also influences climate by moderating temperatures near coasts. Local features like mountains and elevation further impact climate by altering weather systems. Seasonal changes are caused by the Earth's 23.5 degree tilt on its axis relative to the sun.

1. Climate
vs.
Weather

2. The short term
condition of the
atmosphere

3. The average
weather in an
area over a long
period of time

4. Both are defined by:
qtemperature
qhumidity
qwinds
qprecipitation

5. I. What
Determines
Climate?
4 factors

6. A. Latitude
qdistance from
equator measured
in degrees north or
south of the
equator

7. A. Latitude
equator: 0° latitude
North Pole: 90° N
South Pole: 90° S

8. A. Latitude
qEquator = direct,
concentrated sunlight
qPoles = less sunlight
because of the angle
of the earth’s tilt.

10. Effects of Latitude on Solar Angle

11. B. Atmospheric
Circulation
Patterns

12. 3 important
properties of air:
q Coldair sinks,
and warms as it
sinks.

13. 3 important
properties of air:
q Warm air rises
and cools as it
rises.

14. 3 important
properties of air:
qWarm air holds more
water vapor than cold air.
As warm air cools, the water vapor it
contains condenses forming rain,
snow, or fog.

15. B. Atmospheric Circulation Patterns
1. Wind is a result of
cooler air replacing
warm air that rises

16. B. Atmospheric Circulation Patterns
2. Because different
latitudes get
different amounts
of solar energy…

17. B. Atmospheric Circulation Patterns
…we get different
winds & different
circulation patterns
of precipitation.

18. Why does the
equator get such
large amounts of
rainfall?

19. Answer:
qWarm air holds lots of
water that evaporates
from oceans & land. As
air rises, it cools & loses
ability to hold lots of
water. Thus, it rains
heavily at the equator.

20. qC. Ocean
Circulation Patterns

21. C. Ocean Circulation Patterns
1. caused by
winds & rotation
of earth

22. C. Ocean Circulation Patterns
2. make climates
more moderate
q coasts have warmer winters &
cooler summers than inland

23. qD.Local
Geography

24. D. Local Geography
1. Higher
elevations are
cooler

25. D. Local Geography
2. mountains cause
air to be deflected
upwards & cooled…

27. D. Local Geography
…so it releases
moisture on one
side of mountain
but not on other.

28. III. Seasonal
Changes in
Climate

29. Seasons are
caused by
Earth’s 23.5°
tilt

30. SEPTEMBER AND MARCH 22

31. JUNE 21

32. DECEMBER 21

33. EARTH IS TILTED
A TILTED EARTH
WOULD EXPLAIN
MOST OF THE
OBSERVATIONS
THAT WE SEE .
THE EARTH IS
TILTED AT A 23.5
DEGREE ANGLE.

35. Solar Angle
Beam spreading reduces intensity of solar energy

36. Atmospheric Beam Depletion

37. Earth’s Seasons
Earth-Sun Relations

38. Mythbuster
q Tell this to everyone you know:
“Earth’s seasons are solely a
result of the tilt of earth’s axis,
and NOT due to how close or
far from the sun our planet is!!!

39. bibliography
q Slides 25 through 35 are used with permission
(as per the millennium copyright act) from the
following website:
q raider.muc.edu/~mancuscm/lecture%20ppts/Lecture%201.ppt
q midwoodscience.org/mcdonnell/seasons.ppt