Climate Factors

Climate Factors Performance Task

Climate

Long-term temperature & precipitation trends over a large area; “clothes in your closet” analogy.

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions over a smaller area; “what you wear day-to-day” analogy.

Latitude

Distance from the equator; higher latitude = colder temperatures due to less direct sunlight.

Elevation

Higher elevation = thinner air = less heat retention = colder temperatures.

Albedo

The reflectivity of a surface; dark surfaces absorb more heat (warmer), light surfaces reflect heat (cooler).

Proximity to Oceans

Large bodies of water stabilize temperature; coastal areas have steady temps, inland areas have more variation.

Ocean Currents

Warm currents bring warm air & more precipitation; cold currents bring cold air & less precipitation.

Wind Patterns

Global winds affect climate; winds over water bring moisture (more rain), winds over land are drier (less rain).

Coriolis Effect

Earth’s rotation causes winds & ocean currents to curve, affecting global climate patterns.

Rain Shadow Effect

Mountains force moist air to rise, cool, and condense on one side (rainy); the other side remains dry (desert-like).

Seasonal Climate

Inland areas experience more extreme temperature variations due to lack of water’s heat-stabilizing effect.

Mid-Latitude Climate

Regions between 30°-60° latitude experience all four seasons due to varying solar energy throughout the year.

Stable Coastal Climate

Water’s high heat capacity prevents extreme temperature shifts, leading to a milder climate year-round.

Iowa’s Climate

Landlocked, seasonal temp variations, affected by wind patterns and nearby water bodies (Mississippi River).

Warm Ocean Current

Comes from the equator, warms the air above it, leads to more precipitation.

Cold Ocean Current

Comes from the poles, cools the air above it, leads to drier conditions.

Example of a Warm Ocean Current

Gulf Stream (brings warm water from the tropics toward Europe).

Example of a Cold Ocean Current

California Current (brings cold water from the poles down the U.S. West Coast).

Effect of Warm Ocean Currents on Climate

Increase air temperature and bring more moisture, leading to more precipitation.

Effect of Cold Ocean Currents on Climate

Decrease air temperature and cause drier conditions due to less evaporation.

How to tell if wind is moving over water

If the wind is blowing from the ocean toward land, it carries moisture and brings more rain.

How to tell if wind is moving over land

If the wind is blowing from land toward the ocean, it is dry and leads to less precipitation.

Effect of wind moving over water

Makes the air more humid and increases precipitation.

Effect of wind moving over land

Causes drier air and leads to less precipitation.

Why do coastal areas have more consistent temperatures?

Water has a high heat capacity, meaning it absorbs and releases heat slowly, keeping temperatures more stable.

How do ocean currents affect coastal climates?

Warm currents warm the coast, cold currents cool the coast, and both influence precipitation.

Why do warm ocean currents cause more rain?

Warm air holds more moisture, leading to more evaporation and cloud formation, which results in more precipitation.

Why do cold ocean currents cause dry conditions?

Cold air holds less moisture, meaning less evaporation and fewer clouds, leading to less rain.

How can wind direction affect a region’s precipitation?

Winds from the ocean bring moisture and rain, while winds from land bring dry air and less precipitation.