Sample Climate Notes WEATHER CLIMATE Short term description of temperature and precipitation Weather averaged over a long period of time Climate Zones Tropical Dry Temperate Continental Polar Hot year round Very little precipitation Warm summers Warm, humid summers Short, chilly, rainy summer Temperature depends on elevation Frequent rains Little plant life Cool rest of year, mild Cold, snowy winters Long, cold, snowy winters Higher you go, the colder Wide swings in temperature Long periods of rain Precipitation spread through the year evenly Air is thinner at higher altitudes Example Example Example Example Example Example Factors that Influence Climate Altitude Latitude Topography Oceans and Lakes Earth’s Winds
Temperature drops as you go higher Sun shines directly on equator so it’s warm. Smaller angle away from equator so less direct sunlight Humid air from ocean rises and cools forms clouds and rains Winds from ocean/lake act like air conditioner/heater because water changes temperature slower than land 6 belts—push clouds, air, pollution Air is thinner the higher you go Earth is tilted so a hemisphere receives more direct sunlight in summer than winter Side of mountain away from ocean is dry and the air warms (rain shadow) Moderate weather—not as extreme Doldrums—near equator, warm moist air, lots of clouds Climate Changes El Nino La Nina Volcanoes Sun Activity Carbon Dioxide cold water goes lower—surface is warmer than usual cold water goes more upward Particles thrown in air can spread many miles Sun spots and flares can raise temperature on earth From burning fuels Trade winds calm—dry in western Pacific Cold surface water moves west Particles can block sunlight and lower temperature Cause global warming Warm, moist air causes flooding in other part of Pacific Warmer water is pushed west causing more storms CO2 blocks heat from leaving Earth Lesson Planner
Checklist _____ Select 2 businesses _____ Use maps to determine the best location for each business _____ Write reasons for choices Where in the ? Rubric 4—an exact location (city, country) is given for each business; the student has included 3 appropriate reasons for the chosen location of each business; each reason relates to a different factor (natural resources, climate, elevation, location of workers, etc.) and is explained; each reason is supported by at least one specific fact (e.g. average temperature, population, exact elevation, etc.); all reasons are written clearly and with only a couple of minor spelling/punctuation/grammar errors. 3—the student has included 3 appropriate reasons for the chosen location of each business; the reasons relate to at least 2 different factors (natural resources, climate, elevation, location of workers, etc.); most reasons are explained; the exact location (city, country) of each business is stated clearly; most reasons are supported by at least one specific fact (average temperature, specific plants available, population, etc.); most reasons are written clearly; there are a few errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. 2—student has included at least 2 appropriate reasons for most of the chosen business locations; few reasons are explained; the general location (country) of each business is clearly stated; some reasons are written clearly; there are frequent errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. 1—student has included at least one appropriate reason for each of the chosen business locations; explanations of the reasons are not given; the general location of each business is stated clearly; reasons are written legibly and contain many errors of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.