Latitude
- The distance from the equator north and south measured in degrees
- Latitudes closer to the equator have higher temperatures.
Climate
Describes the weather patterns of an area for a long period of time
Topography
- The physical features of a region like mountains or lakes
- Representation of the features of a place or region on a map,
Global/prevailing Winds
- Prevailing winds are winds that blow primarily in 1 direction
- Prevailing winds that carry cold air masses tend to bring cooler and dryer weather
- Prevailing winds that carry warm air masses tend to bring warm weather
Classifying earths climates
The Koeppen Classification system uses temperature and precipitation to divide earths climate into 5 major types.
Tropical climates
- high temperatures year round
- Strong sunlight all year b/c they are close to the equator
- Some also recieve high rainfall
Dry climates
Most of the worlds deserts are classified as dry climates covers about 30% of earth
Deforestation
Cutting down of forests
Elliptical
A warmer period of time that alternates with a ice age
Leeward
The side of the mountain on which the air has list all it’s moisture
Savanna
Land areas made up of tall grasses and scattered trees
Steppe
Semi arid region that receives slightly more rainfall than desserts
Temperate zones
Zones that lie between 23.5 and 66.5 degrees north or south of the equator
Mild climates
Divided into 3 sub-climates
- Humid subtropical
- Marine west coast
- Mediterranean
Continental climates
- Generally located within the interior of most continents
- Most of North America has a continental climate
Polar climates
- Coldest regions on earth
- Occur at high latitudes in both hemispheres
- Usually contain low levels of precipitation
Microclimate
Small area with climate different from the climate of the area around it.
Ice ages
Periods when the average temperature was about 5 degrees c lower, and large sheets of ice covered much of our planets surface.
Seasons
Short termed periods of climatic change
Earths seasons causes
By regular variations in temperature, daylight and weather patterns
Earth on its Axis
- This causes different areas of our planet to receive different amounts of solar radiation.
- When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the northern hemisphere is warmer (summer)
- When the South Pole is tilted towards he sun, the North Pole is colder, (winter)
El niño definition
-A warm ocean current that develops off the western coast of South America.
Earths orbit
- Earth follows a elliptical orbit, meaning it moves along an oval, not a circle.
- During periods when earth is closer to the sun, we recieve more solar radiation
- When we are farther from the sun, we recieve less
Perihelion
When we are closest to the sun.
