The document discusses the concepts of climate and weather, explaining that climate is the long-term average of weather in a region, while weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions. It describes three main climate zones: polar, temperate, and tropical, highlighting their characteristics and typical weather patterns. Additionally, it touches on how the tilt of the Earth influences seasons and temperature variations in different regions.

1. CLIMATE AND WEATHER By Moira Whitehose PhD

2. CLIMATE Climate is the general weather of an area over a long period of time, many years for example.

3. CLIMATE Climate is the general weather of an area over a long period of time, many years for example. Although they have had freezing weather on occasion, the climate of Florida is very mild in the winter.

4. CLIMATE Climate is the general weather of an area over a long period of time, many years for example. WEATHER Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place for a short period of time, like a few days.

5. WEATHER Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place for a short period of time, like a few days. The severe ice storm that occurred in the Texas Hill Country recently was very unusual weather for that area.

6. CLIMATE ZONES Scientists recognize three different kinds of climate zones on planet Earth. North Pole North Pole South Pole Polar Polar Temperate Temperate Tropical

7. POLAR CLIMATES In bands around the north and south poles the climate, called polar climate, is cold and dry. The spring, summer and fall seasons are very short. Tropical North Pole South Pole Temperate Temperate

8. POLAR CLIMATES From the map, notice that most of the polar climate occurs in the northern hemisphere

9. TEMPERATE CLIMATES Temperate climates have temperatures that are moderate, not too hot, not too cold, and change with the seasons. The seasons change depending on the tilt of the Earth. Precipitation varies from place to place. Polar Polar Polar Tropical North Pole South Pole

10. TEMPERATE CLIMATES Temperate climates are good for growing food in the summer. Almost all of the Earth’s wheat, rye, oats, barley and potatoes are grown in Temperate Climate Zones.

11. Tropical climates Tropical climates are warm often times hot. They can be soggy wet to desert dry or anywhere in between. They are found in a wide band around the center of the Earth, near the equator.

12. Tropical climates Seasons hardly occur in areas of Tropical climates. For all 12 months of the year temperature average is above 65º. Wonder why?

13. SEASONS Seasons are not noticeable in the Tropic Climates, but as you can tell from your own experience, there are definitely seasons in our part (Texas) of the Temperate region. Here is why. As you know from our previous study, the Sun is the source of all energy here on Earth. The way that energy is spread out over the planet causes some areas to get more of the Sun’s energy than other areas. That difference in the amount of heat from the Sun that reaches a temperate region determines that region’s seasons. But why would some areas get more of the sun’s energy (sunlight) than another?

14. SEASONS

15. Or we could think about a flashlight pointed straight down and one pointed out in front. Notice that the energy of the light is spread over a much larger area. It would be weaker than the one pointed straight at the ground.

16. SEASONS

17. The sun comes back around to each spot in its orbit once a year, like your birthday comes around once every year.

18. SEASONS

19. SEASONS What causes the seasons on earth? What causes day and night? Can you name the three climate zones? Let’s see if you have it.

20. Mountains Why do tall mountains have snow their peaks even in the middle of the summer? Why do pilots of open cockpit air planes need to wear very warm clothing? Answer: Because it is cold up there, but why?

21. The reason it is cold on mountain tops, is that the sun shines on the earth and warms it. The sun gets a little help from the red hot magma that is just a few miles below the surface, but mainly it’s the sun. You may know from Star Trek that the temperature in space is very cold. The further we travel from the earth’s floor, the colder it gets (at least for the first few miles). For every 1000 feet we climb above the earth floor, the temperature drops about 3º F.