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Climatology

Climatology . Sections. 1. Climate Classification 2. Natural Climate Changes 3. Global Warming 4. Human Impact On The Atmosphere. Climate Classification. Climate. Climatology is the study of Earth’s climate and factors affecting it

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Climatology

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  1. Climatology

  2. Sections • 1. Climate Classification • 2. Natural Climate Changes • 3. Global Warming • 4. Human Impact On The Atmosphere

  3. Climate Classification

  4. Climate • Climatology is the study of Earth’s climate and factors affecting it • Climate describes long term variations in weather (30+ years)

  5. Microclimates • Microclimates are localized climates that differ from the regional climate in which it is found • High elevation near the equator • Asphalt in cities storing heat • Heat Island-Temperatures in cities that are warmer than its surround rural area

  6. Latitude • Areas near the equator get more direct heating • Results in some areas being colder and some being warmer • Climate zones based on temperature and precipitation

  7. Climatograph • A climatograph shows the monthly average temperature and precipitation for a particular area

  8. Climate Classification • Koppel classification system • Based on vegetation and average monthly precipitation and temperature

  9. Tropical Climates • Tropical climates have constant high temperatures • Some has up to 600 cm of rain each year • Tropical rain forests  vegetation • mT air masses • South America, Indonesia

  10. Dry Climates • Dry climates cover 30% of Earth’s land • Influenced by cT air masses • Scarce vegetation • High temperatures, low moisture • Sahara Desert

  11. Mild Climates • Mild climates are divided into 3 types: • Humid subtropical-Warm, muggy summer. Cool, dry winters. • Southeastern United States • Marine west coast-Mild winters, cool summers • Western United States • Mediterranean-Relatively warm • Italy

  12. Continental Climates • Continental climates are divided into 3 types: • Warm summer climates • Cool summer climates • Subarctic climates • Continental climates are influenced by the polar fronts from the poles. • Results in clashing warm and cold air masses

  13. Polar Climates • Polar climates lie north of the continental climates • Known for constant cold temperatures • Has low precipitation • Found near the poles and at high elevations • North/South Pole • Andes Mountains

  14. Natural Climate Changes

  15. Earth is constantly changing, including the climate. There are two causes of climate change: Natural processes Human impacts Climate changes

  16. Climate Change • Climate has changed throughout Earth’s History • Climate has been lower and higher than it is today • Ice Ages-Periods of extensive glacial cover • The last ice age ended about 10,000 years ago (Pleistocene)

  17. Volcanic eruptions • Volcanoes release large amounts of gas and ashes • Clouds can block out the sun’s radiation and cause a cooling of Earth (Year With No Summer)

  18. El Niño • El Niño ( Southern Oscillation) – unusual warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. • High- and low-pressure systems flip-flop between the eastern tropical Pacific and the western tropical Pacific.

  19. El Niño • Indonesia and Australia – normally have large amounts of rain, go into a drought during El Niño. • North and South Americas –normally dry, have a lot of rain- and snowfall. • El Niño can also cause severe and extreme weather events, such as typhoons and tornadoes in unusual locations.

  20. La Niña • La Niña –cooler than normal temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. • In the United States – winters tend to be warmer, summers tend to be cooler than normal

  21. Solar Activity • When the sun is most active – contains sunspots (dark spots) on the sun (more solar radiation) • Increase in number of sun spots – temperatures in North America and Europe increase

  22. Short Term Changes In Climate • Seasons are short term periods of climate change • Exist because Earth is tilted on its axis • Some areas of the world get more direct heat

  23. Causes of Climate Change • Changes in Earth’s Orbit • Every 100,000 years Earth’s orbit becomes more elliptical • Changes in Earth’s Axis-Every 41,000 years Earth’s tilt changes from 22.1 degrees to 24.5 degrees

  24. Global Warming

  25. Greenhouse Effect • Water vapor and carbon dioxide – major greenhouse gases • Trap heat in our atmosphere • Without the greenhouse gases, Earth would be too cold to live on

  26. Greenhouse Effect • Humans can impact the greenhouse effect • Burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere • Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide which causes temperatures to increase beyond the normal amounts

  27. Global Warming • Global warming – increase in global temperatures from an increase in carbon dioxide • Might lead to the melting of the glaciers • Would raise sea level 60 meters and would flood coastal towns • Could possibly Increases in number and intensity of hurricanes, more intense heat waves and droughts

  28. Measuring Global Warming • Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere from 200 A.D. – 2000 A.D. • At the start of the Industrial Revolution – temperatures began to rise and have continued

  29. Causes of Global Warming

  30. Measuring Global Warming • Arguments that skeptics of global warming put forth: • The Earth has naturally gone through climate shifts before humans existed • There is not enough evidence to stop the production of fossil fuels which would destroy the economy • 2009-Global warming activists knowingly submitted false data to forward their agenda

  31. Human Impact On The Atmosphere

  32. Air Pollution • Air includes mostly Nitrogen and Oxygen • Human activities can disrupt the balance of these gases

  33. Ozone • Ozone is a gas(O3) that exists in the Stratosphere • Protects us from ultraviolet radiation • Is beginning to thin out due to chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere

  34. Ozone • Ozone in the Troposphere however is a pollutant • Caused by the reaction of sunlight with other air pollutants(CO, NO etc.) • Smog

  35. Acid Rain • Acid Precipitation= Precipitation with a pH less than 7 • Caused by reaction of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides with water vapor • Forms Sulfuric and Nitric Acid

  36. Urban Air Pollution • Pollution such as smog occurs when pollutants are ejected at a faster rate than they are extracted • Atmospheric inversion may occur • Layer of warm air keeps pollutants from being transported

  37. Los Angeles • Los Angeles, CA is considered to be the smoggiest and most polluted city in the United States • Also suffers from ground level ozone  Can cause respiratory illness

  38. Clean Air Act • Clean Air Act-Federal legislation designed to control air pollution on a federal level • Hybrid Vehicles-Cars that use both a combustion engine and an electric motor for energy • Give off less emissions

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