The temperature and precipitation in different areas are determined by two main factors: the angle of sunlight received, which is affected by latitude and elevation, and atmospheric circulation patterns like ocean currents and prevailing winds, which influence how much moisture is transported to a location. Variations in factors like latitude, elevation, proximity to large bodies of water, and ocean currents and wind patterns cause places on Earth to have different temperatures and amounts of precipitation, resulting in the major climate zones of tropical, temperate, and polar.

2. The temperature of an area
The precipitation of an area

3. It is colder at the North Pole than in Georgia.
It is warmer in the Amazon Rainforest than it is in Georgia.
It is hotter in Florida than in Canada.

4. http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/
Remember that the equator is
0° latitude and the poles are
90 °.
The closer a location is to the
equator, the more direct
sunlight the area will receive.
More direct sunlight = more
heat!
http://www.weatherscouts.org

5. Causes the angle of the
sunlight hitting the earth to
effect the amount of heat
energy an area receives.
http://www.astronomy.org

6. This causes
three general
climate zone
patterns:
Tropical
Temperate
Polar
Can you explain
how are they
different?
http://members.aol.com/pakulda/emstyg2.htm

7. http://www.astro.virginia.edu
The angle of sunlight determines the climate we have.
Because the earth is tilted, the angle of sunlight on earth
changes as we go around the sun.
Because the angle changes during the year, we have seasons too!

9. Sometimes referred to
as ELEVATION
This picture of
Mount Rainier
(Washington) was
taken in August.
Look at the
mountain!
Because it is so
high, it has a
different climate
that the area where
the flowers are
blooming. The top
is snow covered all
http://www.daytrails.com/Paradise.html
year.

10. http://everytrail.net/
Sometimes an entire area is at a high altitude.
Look at Mt. Everest and its surrounding area.

11. You can even find snow at the equator if the
altitude is high enough.
This is a mountain in Ecuador (South American)
on the equator!
www.surtrek.org

12. Warm ocean water moving
from the equator holds its
heat a long time. Cold ocean
water moving from the poles
holds it cold temperature a
long time too. This affects
the climate of the areas near
the ocean currents.
For example: England
is at a latitude equal
to Alaska but their
climate is warmer
than Alaska’s because
of the warm ocean
current flowing
toward them.
Copyright © Bruce Molnia, Terra Photographics

13. Remember
this map?
Notice that the
lines between
climate zones
are straight!
Because of the
different
temperatures of
the ocean
currents, this is
not how they
really are on
http://members.aol.com/pakulda/emstyg2.htm
Earth.

14. Look closely at this map!
http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/
Notice the coastal areas of the USA. Water temperature does
affect climate!

15. Look at the ocean
currents.
Copyright © Prentice Hall, Inc.
What effect would currents have on climate in
different parts of the world? Japan? SW Africa?
NW Africa? West coast of South America?

17. These are winds that blow the same direction
most of the time.
If the wind is coming
from a moist air
mass, it will bring
precipitation. If the
wind is coming from
a dry air mass, it will
not bring
precipitation.
http://www.pbs.org

18. Dry climate zones are often caused by
prevailing winds that are very low in
moisture.
Copyright © Marli Miller, University of Oregon

19. Wet climate zones are often caused by
prevailing winds that are very high in
moisture.
http://concise.britannica.com

20. Prevailing winds that hit high
mountain ranges lose their
moisture on the side where
they hit first.
http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/
This is called a rain shadow.

21. One of the
driest
deserts on
Earth is
found right
next to the
Pacific
Ocean.
http://images.encarta.msn.com
Why? The prevailing winds bring moisture to the Amazon
Rainforest. When the wet wind hits the Andes Mountains, all the
moisture is left on the east side. The west side is a desert!

22. What are the two things that determine the climate
for an area?
What causes places on earth to have different
temperatures?
What causes places to have different precipitation?