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The Factors the Affect Climate: L.A.C.E.M.O.P.S. L = Latitude Distance from the equator is one of the most important factors in determining climate. Zones of Latitude. High: Polar climates . One Season: COLD Middle: Temperate Climates 4 Seasons: Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall
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L = Latitude Distance from the equator is one of the most important factors in determining climate.
Zones of Latitude High:Polar climates. One Season: COLD Middle: Temperate Climates 4 Seasons: Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall Low: Tropical Climates 2 Seasons: Rainy, Dry HIGH MIDDLE LOW MIDDLE HIGH
Study the two climographs below. • Can you pick out the one that depicts a tropical climate? How do you know? • Bonus Question: Is it a tropical wet or a tropical wet and dry climate? How do you know? Climate A Climate B
Air Masses • Northern hemisphere = • cold air from the polar regions comes from the north • hot air from the tropics comes from the south. • Southern hemisphere = • cold air from the polar region comes from the south • hot air from the tropics comes from the north.
Why is the direction that cold air comes from flip flopped in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
ContinentalityThe effect of a location on a continent Why is there so little difference between summer and winter along the coast of California? It takes the ocean a long time to heat & cool! Wind blowing off of water moderates coastal areas. What is the difference between summer & winter in Kansas? BIG difference in seasons in Kansas…why? Land heats & cools quickly!! Close to large body of water = smaller difference in temperature Farther away from water = greater difference in temperature.
Continentality: How Does It Affect Climate? Compare these two locations. Which one has a more varied climate? How can you tell?
ELEVATION The higher you go, the colder it gets. As you go up in elevation, the air gets thinner and does not trap heat.
Elevation Remember: elevation affects climate and climate affects the type of vegetation.
MOUNTAIN BARRIERS Winds blow across the ocean & push moisture inland. Moisture cloud reaches the mountains, gets “popped” by the mountain top & rains on the coastal side By the time this cloud reaches the other side of the mountains, the air is dry. What very dry state do you find East of the Sierra Nevada Mts??
Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK2q8mTszr4
Ocean Currents • Cold currents create dry conditions on the coast. • Warm currents create wet conditions on the coast.
Pressure High Pressure=H Heavy, cool air, brings clear skies and no rain. Low Pressure=L Light, warm air, usually brings precipitation
Earth’s winds would blow in straight lines, but since the earth rotates they are turned at an angle. In the northern hemisphere, they turn to the right. In the southern hemisphere they turn to the left. This bending of the wind is called the Coriolis Effect. Wind and the Coriolis Effect
Storms • Storms occur where …. • polar winds meet westerlies • when hot & cold air masses collide
Storm Tracks Cat. 5 Hurricane Tropical Storm Tornado Cyclone
This acronym was .introduced by: Dr. James Petersen – Texas State University – San Marcos, TX, 1990. • Latitude • Air Masses • Continentality • Elevation • Mountain Barriers • O cean Currents • Pressure & Prevailing Winds • Storms