Factors Affecting
Worldwide Climate
FACTORS AFFECTING WORLDWIDE CLIMATE
INTRODUCTION
Climate involves an average of weather conditions over a large geographic region over a long
period of time. It is affected by many factors such as:
1. nearness to bodies of water
2. latitude
3. mountain ranges
4. elevation
5. prevailing winds
6. ocean currents
Because of the great number of possible combinations of factors for different parts of the world,
classification of climates is very complicated.
OBJECTIVES
You will be able to determine the climate of an imaginary landmass based on an analysis of
several climatic factors.
MATERIALS
Planetary Wind Chart pg. 14 ESRT
Red, Blue, and Black colored pencils
APPROXIMATE TIME
2 periods
LABORATORY QUESTIONS
1. How does temperature vary with latitude? ________________________________________
Temperature decreases when a location’s latitude is farther from the
__________________________________________________________________________
equator
2. Define “Average Annual Temperature.” __________________________________________
The
average temperature for an entire year at a specific location.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Define Temperature Range. ____________________________________________________
Temperature range is the numerical difference between the minimum and maximum
___________________________________________________________________________
values of temperature observed in a given location during a period of time
4. How does elevation affect the climate of a location? ________________________________
Increase of Elevation can result in lower temperatures regardless of latitude.
___________________________________________________________________________
5. How does the presence of a mountain range affect the climate of a region? _______________
Mountains block the prevailing winds from blowing across a continent, changing
___________________________________________________________________________
the amount of moisture the wind carries.
6. How does the temperature of ocean currents affect climate? __________________________
Surface currents carry warm or cool water to different locations. The surface
temperature of the water affects the temperature of the air above it.
___________________________________________________________________________
7. Which lettered location(s) :
___________________________________________________________
7. Which lettered location(s) :
E
a. has no winter ____________
H, G,C,B
has a climate influenced by altitude ____________
H
A
is located on the windward side of a mountain ____________
is located on the leeward side of a mountain ____________
G
G,C
would be located in a desert ____________
A,B
is influenced by a warm ocean current ____________
is influenced by a cold ocean current ____________
D
F
has cool summers and long cold winters ____________
B,D,F
has a marine climateA,
____________
C,E, G, H
has a continental climate ____________
A,D
has a S.E. wind ____________
b. has a temperate (mid-latitude) climate ____________
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
0o , 60o N&S
30o N&S
At which latitudes is the surface air diverging and sinking? ____________
8. At which latitudes is the surface air converging and rising? ____________
9. The climate of most locations near the equator is warm and wet.
a. Explain why the climate is warm. _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
The Climate
is Warm because it is receiving direct sunlight
b. Explain why the climate is wet. ___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
The Climate
is Wet because the air is converging and rising
10. Explain the difference in temperature between points B and C _______________________
B would__________________________________________________________________________
be warmer than C because it is near a warm ocean current.
11. How do ocean currents affect the climate location D on the continent? _________________
D would__________________________________________________________________________
be colder than A because it is near a cold ocean current.
12. Using the ESRT, name a warm ocean current that affects the east coast of North America.
__________________________________________________________________________
The Gulf Stream.
13. Compare the yearly average temperatures between location E and location F. ____________
E would __________________________________________________________________________
have a higher yearly average temperature than F because it is
much closer to the equator.
PART B
The following graphs represent the two main characteristics of climate precipitation and
temperature for several locations on earth.
o-20o =55o
75
14. What is the temperature range for Location 1? ________________________
65o-40o =25o
What is the temperature range for Location 2? ________________________
15. If both of these locations were at the same latitude explain one reason why the temperature
ranges are different?
___________________________________________________________________________
One reason the locations could have the same latitude
but
different temperature ranges is because of their
___________________________________________________________________________
elevations or the nearness to bodies of water.
ranges are different?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
17.5 inches
16. Determine the total average rainfall for the year at location 4. ________________________
17. Why is the total rainfall so low for the entire year at location 3? _______________________
One reason is that location 3 could possibly be in a
__________________________________________________________________________
desert or leeward side of a mountain
18. Compare and contrast the total average temperature and rainfall for locations 5 & 6.
Location
5 has an annual average temperature of 79 degrees and a
_________________________________________________________________________
rainfall annual total of 103’’. Location 6 has an annual average
_________________________________________________________________________
temperature of only 44 degrees and a rainfall total of 13.4”
Location 5
Location 6
20. Which location would be at the higher latitude? ___________________________________
19. Which location would best represent a tropical rain forest? __________________________
It has a larger temperature range
implying that is has seasonal changes.
How can you tell? __________________________________________________________
20. Which location would be at the higher latitude? ___________________________________
How can you tell? __________________________________________________________
21. How do you know that location 7 is in the northern hemisphere? ___________________
Location
7 is in the northern hemisphere because it shows that it has
_______________________________________________________________________
warm seasonal temperatures in July, August, and September
22. If you were planning a vacation to locations 7 & 8 what would you pack for each location
and why?
_______________________________________________________________________
Location
7 I would pack clothes depending on the season or month I was
going
in because it has seasonal changes. Location 8 I would pack clothes
_______________________________________________________________________
for warm weather and rainy weather because it is a tropical location.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=yhwkhAvRI9I
Ocean Current Video
•
1) What is a current?
•
Streams of sea water that circulate the oceans.
•
2) What three (3) things cause currents?
•
Wind, Gravity, and differences in Water Density.
•
3) What are the two distinct current systems?
•
Surface Circulation and Deep Circulation
•
4) What is the dominant pattern of surface circulation?
•
The Gyre
Current Video
•
5) What is a gyre?
•
A well organized circular flow.
•
6) What is the most important cause of surface currents?
•
Wind
•
7) Where are two places the ocean surface is highest?
•
Where currents converge or where water runs into a continent.
•
8) What causes the Coriolis Effect?
•
The Earth surface rotates faster at the equator than at the
poles.
Current Video
•
9) What are two winds that produce the subtropical gyres?
•
Trade Winds and Westerlies
•
10) List Three examples of a temporary current
•
Longshore, Rip current, and upwelling.
•
11) When does upwelling occur?
•
When winds push surface waters away from the shore and
deeper water rises to fill the gap.
•
12) Where does the global current conveyor belt begin?
•
On the surface of the ocean near the poles.