Basic Climate
What is the one factor that influences climate?
Mountains, latitude, elevation, land vs water
What two sides are there for mountains?
Leeward and Windward
How is it possible that there would be snow on high mountains that are located near the equator where it is very warm?
Because the higher the elevation, the colder the temperature.
What heats up faster: land or water?
Land
Climates located near the equator usually have what type of climate?
warm
How many years of data are required to determine regional climate?
30
What side of the mountain is closer to the ocean?
Windward
Describe air molecules at high elevations (2 characteristics!)
Spread out and slow moving
Why does land heat up faster than water?
Land is darker and absorbs more energy from the sun than water.
Climates near the equator are warmer because...
They receive more direct sunlight
What happens to a climate as it nears the poles?
cold and dry
What side of the mountain has rain and plants?
Windward
Describe air molecules at low elevations. (2 characteristics)
Closer together and fast moving.
How do we describe the climate of locations that are near the water?
Mild
Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil has a latitude of 22.9*S and Mykanos, Greece has a latitude of 37*N. Who would be colder and WHY?
Mykanos because it is further from the equator and gets less direct sunlight.
"It's windy today" is an example of...
weather
Describe the air on the Leeward side? (2 characteristics)
Extreme Temps and Dry
When molecules move quickly at low elevations, what do they create?
Thermal Energy
How do we describe the climate of locations that are land locked?
Extreme
What latitude is the North Pole at?
90 * N
What climate zone is the Bahamas in?
Tropical/warm
Describe the air on the Windward side (2 characteristics)
Mild temps and moist
Mt Everest has the highest elevation of any mountain; what mountain range is it a part of?
The Himalayas
Describe the difference in the molecules in land vs water
Land has molecules that are compact and not moving much. The molecules in water are more spaced out and moving around.
What latitude is the equator at?
0*