Explain how each of thse affect climate.
-latitude
-ocean currents
-winds and air masses
-elevation(altitude)
-relief(mountain barriers)
-nearness to water
Please help. I need straight forward answers. I read some info online about these...but I do not understand. So can you please help me?..by making the info simple. Thanks soo much.
What Causes Climate?
Key Concepts
r What factors influence temperature?
r What factors influence precipitation?
r What causes the seasons?
Climate is the long-term, average conditions of temperature, precipitation,
winds, and clouds in an area. The climate of a region is determined by two
main factors: temperature and precipitation.
The same factors that affect climate regions also affect smail areas.
Microclimates are smali areas with climate conditions that differ from those
around them.
The main factors that influence temperature are latitude, altitude,
distance frorn large bodies of water, and ocean currents. Earth's surface is
divided into three temperature zones. The tropical zone is the area near the
equator,b etweena bout 23.5on orth latitude and 23.5'south latitude.I t has a
warm climate because it receives direct sunlight all year. The polar zones
extend from about 66.5" to 90" north and 66.5' to 90' south latitudes. They
have cold climatesb ecauset he sun strikest he ground at a lower angle.T he
temperate zones are between the tropical and polar zones-from about 23.5'
to 66.5" north and 23.5" to 66.5o south latitudes. They have weather that
ranges from warm in the summer to cold in the winter. Altitude is an
important climatef actorb ecausea ir temperatured ecreasesa s altitude
increasesL. arge bodies of water influence temperaturesb ecausew ater heats
up and cools down more slowly than land. Marine climates have relatively
warm winters and cool summers. Continental climates occur in inland
areas and are often characterized by cold winters and warm or hot summers.
Many marine climates are also influenced by ocean currents. Ocean currents
are streams of water within the oceans that move in regular patterns.
The main factors that affect precipitation are prevailing winds, the
presence of mountains, and seasonal winds. A mountain range in the path
of prevailing winds influences where precipitation falls. Winds are forced to
rise and pass over the mountains. The rising warm air cools, and its water
vapor condenses and falls as rain or snow on the windward side of the
mountains, the side the oncoming wind hits. The land on the leeward, or
downwind, side of mountains receives little precipitation. Sea and land
breezes over a large region that change direction with the seasons are called
monsoons.
Most placeso n Earth, outside the tropics, have four seasonsT. he seasons
are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis as Earth travels around the sun. The
seasonsc hangea s the amount of energy eachh emispherer eceivesf rom the
sun changes. For example, in ]r.rne the north end of Earth's axis is tilted
toward the sun. The Northern Hemisphere receives more energy. It is
summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Source:
http://www.hirleman.com/Files/StudyGuides/Climate%20and%20Climate%20Change.PDF
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