Climate and Climate Zones

Climate

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What is Climate?

• The long-term, average weather conditions that occur in a particular region.

• Average temperature and precipitation determines climate.

Multiple Choice

Climate is talking about the short-term weather changes that happen.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Which of the following 2 determine the climate of an area?

• Temperature

• Winds

• Plants

• Precipitation

What affects Climate?

• The latitude of a location: Closer to the equator= warmer climate

• Large bodies of water like oceans and lakes: Weather is more constant throughout the year

• If you are in the center of a continent, you have hot summers and cold winters

Multiple Choice

If I am located in the center of a continent, what type of climate can I expect to have?

• Warmer

• More constant temperatures/precipitation

• Hot summer and cold winters

• Colder temperatures than areas that surround

Multiple Choice

What type of climate can I expect to have if I live right along a coast?

• More constant temperature and precipitation year-round

• Hot summers and cold winters

• Warmer than normal areas

• Colder than surrounding areas

Multiple Choice

What type of climate would you expect areas along the equator to have?

• Hot summers, cold winters

• Consistent temperatures and precipitation year-round

• Warmer temperatures because of it's latitude

• Colder than surrounding areas

What affects Climate?

• Altitude (How high up) Mountainous areas are often rainy/snowy

• Buildings and Concrete~ Large cities Solar energy is retained causes higher temperatures

Multiple Choice

What type of climate would you expect to find in a large city?

• Consistent temperature and precipitation year-round

• Hot summers, cold winters

• Warmer temperatures than areas it surrounds.

• Colder temperatures than areas it surrounds

Multiple Choice

What type of climate would an area on top of a mountain have?

• Colder temperatures than areas it surrounds.

• Warmer temperatures than areas it surrounds.

• Hot summers, cold winters

• Consistent temperatures year-round

Latitude

• Locations near the equator get more sunlight than areas farther from the equator.

• This is caused by Earth’s curved surface.

• The equator gets direct sunlight, while other locations it is more spread out.

Multiple Choice

Locations near the equator get less sunlight than other locations.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Earth's surface is curved, and this impacts climate.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Why is the poles colder than the equator area?

• The sun is more direct

• The sun is closer

• The sun is less direct

• The sun is further away always.

Altitude & Rain Shadows

• Remember, temperature decreases as altitude increases. 

• This means 2 locations in the same latitude, not far from each other, could have different climates.

• Mountains are barriers to prevailing winds

• The side of the mountain getting winds will have normal rainfall, the opposite side of the mountain will get no/little rain.

Multiple Choice

What is the side of the mountain that gets no/little precipitation called?

• West side

• Dry side

• Rain shadow

• It's the same as the other side

Multiple Choice

What happens as you increase your altitude?

• Temperature decreases

• Temperature increases

• Temperature stays the same

Multiple Choice

Mountains can block the winds impacting an areas climate?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

If I have two locations in the same latitude, they will always have the same type of climate.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What climate is warm, muggy, and rainy all year round?

• Humid Tropical

• Tropical Savanna

Multiple Choice

What climate has semi dry grasslands and prairies?

• Desert

• Steppe

Multiple Choice

What climate is in the path of hurricanes and typhoons usually?

• Mediterranean Climate

• Humid Subtropical

Multiple Choice

What climate has four distinct seasons?

• Marine West Coast

• Humid Continental

Multiple Choice

In what climate is permafrost found?

• Subarctic

• Tundra

• Ice Cap

Multiple Choice

In the highland climate, there is only one temperature found.

• True

• False