Chapter 5 The Water Cycle and Weather - Lesson 5 What is Climate?

What is included in climate?

- The average amount of precipitation (rain or snow) - The average temperature - How much the temperature changes during the year

If a place has an unusually hot summer, is its climate changing?

No. The time period is too short to be a change in climate. It must be an extended period of time, such as 30 years.

Explain what latitude is...

a measure of how far a place is from the equator. Latitude is measured in degrees

Area on the opposite sides of the mountain range can have different climates because...

air does not have much moisture by the time it reaches the other side.

An area that closer to the equator is usually...

hotter than place that are farther away

At higher elevation, the temperature ...

is lower

Definition of climate

It describes weather conditions over a long period of time. It is at least 30 years.

Three things that affect climate

Latitude Elevation Closeness to large bodies of water

What are three zones climate, based on latitude?

The polar zone The tropical zone The temperate zone

Why are places warmer at the equator?

The sun's energy is able to hit them more directly.

How do bodies of water affect climate?

They slow the rise and fall of air temperature.

Definition of weather

Weather is made up of all the conditions in one single moment. It changes very often.

Elevation is defined as...

the height above sea level.

Ocean currents can make a climate ....

warmer or cooler

What warms up and cools down more slowly than land?

water