Understanding the Differences Between Climate and Weather: Key Factors Explained
This article delves into the fundamental differences between climate and weather. Climate refers to the average weather conditions of an area over long periods, while weather describes the atmospheric state at a specific moment. Key factors influencing climate include solar energy, global wind patterns, ocean currents, and topography. Examples such as the rain shadow effect from mountains and the impact of ocean currents, like the California current, are explored to illustrate how these elements shape local weather patterns. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping environmental changes.
Understanding the Differences Between Climate and Weather: Key Factors Explained
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Presentation Transcript
Climate vs. Weather • Climate: Average weather conditions for an area over a long period of time. • Weather: condition of the atmosphere at any given time
What effects Climate? • Solar Energy/Intensity • Global Wind Patterns • Ocean Currents • Topography
Global Circulation Patterns • Oceans • Convection currents • Cold water (sinks or rises)?? • Density of water? • Wind
Ocean Currents– take a look at the south-bound California current. What does this do for the weather of CA and UT?
Topography • Mountains=Rain shadow effect • Ex. Sierra Nevada mountains run north to south. • West to East movement of storms (why?)
1. The summers here are warm and sometimes humid. • 2. Cumulus clouds presently cover the entire sky. • 3. Our lowest temperature last winter was -29°C. • 4. The air temperature outside is 22°C. • 5. December is our foggiest month. • 6. The highest temperature in Chicago was 105 degrees as recorded on July 24, 1934. • 7. Snow is falling at the rate of 5 cm per hour.
8. Autumn in Chicago is mild enough to still go to the beach. • 9. The average temperature for the month of January in Chicago is 29 degrees. • 10. There was a heat wave this summer. • 11. It is supposed to rain tomorrow. • 12. That region has rain from August through June. • 13. It hardly ever snows in Florida. • 14. The sky is clear and sunny, but it’s cold out.
