CLIMATE

Some plants that grow in deserts have long roots to reach the water deep in the earth.

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TEMPERATE

A temperate climate is one where it never gets too hot or too cold.

Temperature Range

A temperature range is the hottest to the coldest that an area can be.

SOLAR ENERGY - SUN

The climate of an area is directly related to the amount of energy the area receives from the sun (SOLAR ENERGY.)

Elevation

ELEVATION is the height of an area above sea level. TEMPERATURE DECREASES AS ELEVATION INCREASES.

THE SUN POWERS THE WATER CYCLE

Energy from the sun warms the surface of water in oceans, lakes and rivers, causing it to evaporate into water vapor. When it cools and condenses precipitation occurs.

Latitude affects the amount of sun an area receives.

Near the Equator the sun's rays hit the Earth directly so the sun is strong and temperatures are high. Further away from the Equator the suns rays hit at a lesser angle so it is cooler. The Poles get the least strong sun.

SOLAR ENERGY POWERS THE WATER CYCLE AND WINDS - this affects the TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION of an area.

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3 MAJOR CLIMATE ZONES - these are determined by LATITUDE

1) TROPICAL (near the Equator) 2) TEMPERATE (in between) 3) POLAR (furthest from the Equator)

Precipitation

An area with a small amount of precipitation throughout the year could support plant life all year round. An area with the same average precipitation that gets most of its precipitation in a few months can only support plant life for part of the year.

Surface Currents

An ocean current is the movement of water in a certain direction. Surface currents are the currents on the surface of the ocean.

Climate

CLIMATE describes the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. CLIMATE is determined by TEMPERATURE & PRECIPITATION.

POLAR

It gets very cold in polar zones.

Latitude

LATITUDE is the distance in degrees north and south from the Equator.

Temperature

Temperature is an important part of determining the climate of an area.

Average temperature

The average temperature of an area can be misleading as an area that is sometimes very hot and sometimes very cold could have the same average temperature as somewhere that is warm all year round.

THE SUN POWERS THE WIND

The sun warms Earth's surface unevenly creating different air pressure. As air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure wind is created.

Topography

Topography is the shape of the land (the area's surface features. ) Like flat, hilly, mountainous etc. Topography can affect winds. When winds hit a mountain the air is forced to rise up.

TROPICAL

Very hot. It can be very rainy - RAIN FOREST - or very dry - DESERT. Also SAVANNA

Weather

WEATHER is the condition of the Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place.

WINDS FORM WHEN AIR MOVES FROM A HIGH PRESSURE AREA TO A LOW PRESSURE AREA.

Warm, less dense air rises creating areas of low pressure. Cold, more dense air sinks creating areas of high pressure.