PM Climate Detectives, Factors Affecting Climate

Climate relates to the temperature and precipitation that occurs over time. Africa has tropical climates with a lot of rainfall (green) and arid desert climates with little rainfall (brown). Temperature in Africa depends on latitude, altitude and distance to water.

What are the TWO ways to describe the CLIMATE of Africa?

• mountains and winds

• Latitude and altitude

• precipitation and temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Climate refers to the average annual temperature and precipitation (rain) in an area. Average annual temperature is impacted by latitude, altitude and distance from bodies of water. Average precipitation is impacted by winds and mountains. Which identifies factors that impact TEMPERATURE?

• temperature and precipitation

• latitude, altitude and distance from bodies of water

• winds and mountains

Climate refers to the average annual temperature and precipitation (rain) in an area. Average annual temperature is impacted by latitude, altitude and distance from bodies of water. Average precipitation is impacted by winds and mountains. Which identifies factors that impact PRECIPITATION?

• temperature and precipitation

• latitude, altitude and distance from bodies of water

• winds and mountains

Uneven heating of Earth causes ___.

• ocean currents

• winds

• ocean currents and winds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What do the blue arrows in image 1 show?

• ocean currents

• winds

• precipitation

• temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Earth spins faster at the equator than at the poles. This causes the curve of the winds and is called the Coriolis Effect.

What does the rotation of the Earth cause?

• seasons that change

• winds that curve

• hurricanes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Latitude is the distance a place is from the equator. Closer to the equator (0 degrees north or south) will have a warmer temperature. Further from the equator will have a cooler temperature (more than 23.5 degrees north or south). Therefore, point __ will have the LOWEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (it will be the coolest) because it has the HIGHEST latitude (31 degrees North).

• A

• C

• F

• G

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Latitude is the distance a place is from the equator. Closer to the equator (0 degrees north or south) will have a warmer temperature. Further from the equator will have a cooler temperature (more than 23.5 degrees north or south). Therefore, point __ will have the HIGHEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (it will be the hottest) because it has the LOWEST latitude (0 degrees North of the equator).

• A

• C

• F

• G

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

View the top blue arrow near letter A. Moist wind travels from the ocean to point A. It rains on the windward side of the mountains, near point A. When the clouds reach point B, on the leeward side of the mountain, it doesn't rain as much because the clouds lost most of its moisture on the windward side of the mountains. Which city will have the LEAST PRECIPITATION?

• City A has the least precipitation because it is on the windward side of the mountain range that gets the most moisture from the oceans and winds.

• City B will have the least precipitation because it is on the leeward side of the mountain with little moist wind.

• City A and B will have the same precipitation amount.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Large and quick temperature changes occur more to inland cities that are far away from water. Which city will experience extreme temperature changes?

• A

• C

• F

• G

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6