Climate Regions Review

Climate Regions Review

Review for Upcoming Science Assessment

What is Weather?

Weather is the short term conditions of the atmosphere

Changes from day to day

Varies from region to region

What is Climate?

Climate is the long term conditions in the atmosphere (greater than a year)

Short Term and Long Term Changes

Varies from region to region

Describes as hot/cold or wet/dry

Tropical Region

Near the equator

Warm/Hot

Typically Humid

Mild to "No" Winters"

Temperate Region

Has four distinct seasons

Warm summers

Cold winters

Moderate Fall/Spring

Polar Regions

Extreme cold temperatures

At greatest risk due to global warming

Factors that Affect Climate

• Latitude

• Proximity to Oceans

• Topography

• Global Convection

Latitude

Locations near the equator are warmer than those at the poles.

This is due to these locations recieving more DIRECT sunlight

Proximity to Oceans

Locations near the ocean will experience more humidity and precipitation.

Locations closer to equator will receive more warn air while some will experience cooler air

The ocean will affect air temperature and precipitation

Topography/Elevation

Mountains cause moist air to rise and cool, causing precipitation

One side of the mountain will contain grassy and forest land while the other may contain a desert.

Locations at higher altitudes will have cooler climates than those at sea level

Global Convection

Warm humid air at the equator will rise upward, causes precipitation.

The air that is now dry will continue away from the equator, hence we see deserts at roughly 30 degrees N/S.

What are the characterisitics of Earth's main climate regions?

Tropical climates--warm and moist all year; Dry climate—warm or cold, but little yearly precipitation; temperate climates—warm summers and cool winters; cold climates—dry or moist but low temperatures most of the year; polar climates—intense cold most of the year.

How do the Climate Regions differ from one another?

Climate zones differ in average temperature and precipitation

What factors cause the differences between climate regions?

Differences in climate regions are caused by amount of solar radiation received, air patterns in the atmosphere, latitude, and nearness to an ocean.

Now it's your turn

Find the information on the following slides to aid in your studying

Climate Regions

Describe the following regions in terms of temperature and humidity

Tropical

Polar

Temperate

Describe the following sub climate regions

Tropical Rainforest

Artctic

Desert

Taiga

Grassland

Tundra

*Also search photos so you know what they look like.

Identify the meaning of the following words

Canopy

Understory

Forest Floor

Ceiling

*as they relate to science, use Discovery Education, then Google if no answer is given

Multiple Choice

Most of the United States is located in which climate zone?

• temperate

• polar

• tropical

• humid

Multiple Choice

Which biome is characterized by significant precipitation and contains more than 50% of all the species on Earth?

• deciduous

• tropical rain forest

• taiga

• temperate grassland

Multiple Select

Dry Climates are classified as

• humid and semi-humid

• continental and maritime

• arid and semi-arid

• arid and humid

Multiple Choice

In addition to being found at high latitudes, cold climates can also be found at which locations in middle and low latitudes?

• on mountains

• on islands

• along coastlines

• on interior plains

Multiple Choice

Cold climate zones are known as

• topical

• polar

• temperate

• subtropical