Climate
DEFINITION OF CLIMATE
Climate is usually defined as the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Climate is determined by 1 or more of the 5 causes of climate. There are 12 different types of climate found on Earth. Each of the 12 climate types are grouped into 5 categories, except 1 (Highland). Climates in the same category share characteristics and usually are found in the same area. Climates change over time, usually the change is very slow. The Earth has experienced many different climates over its 4.54 billion years. There are many different factors that cause climates to shift and change. Climate affects the Earth system. Each day scientists are discovering how global climate change and wild climate events affect the Earth.
5 causes of climate
LATITUDE
Latitude provides the location of a place north or south of the equator with the measurements ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Different latitudes on Earth receive different amounts of sunlight, and the key factor in determining a region’s climate.
ELEVATION
Elevation influences climate, like where and how people live. Most of the worlds people live on coastal plains at elevations of 150 meters (500 feet) or less. Some cultures have adapted to higher elevations. Above this elevation, the climate becomes too cold for growing crops, and there is also not enough oxygen in the air to sustain human life.
Ocean Currents
Mass flows of water, or currents, are essential to understanding how heat energy moves between the Earth’s water bodies, landmasses, and atmosphere. The ocean’s global circulation system plays a key role in distributing heat energy, regulating weather and climate, and cycling vital nutrients and gases.
Proximity to Water Bodies
Large bodies of water such as oceans, seas, and large lakes affect the climate of an area. Water heats and cools more slowly than land. Therefore, in the summer, the coastal regions will stay cooler and in winter warmer. A more moderate climate with a smaller temperature range is created.
TERRAIN
In physical geography, terrain is the lay of the land. This is usually expressed in terms of the elevation, slope, and orientation of terrain features. Terrain affects surface water flow and distribution. Over a large area, it can affect weather and climate patterns.
AestheticxScience
Scithetic
2017
References:
https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/news_headlines.htm
https://sites.google.com/site/climatetypes/
https://enviroliteracy.org/air-climate-weather/climate/latitude-climate-zones/
https://sites.google.com/site/climatetypes/5-causes-of-climate
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/elevation/
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/ocean-currents-and-climate/
http://www.acer-acre.ca/resources/climate-change-in-context/general-concepts/proximity-to-water-bodies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrain