Chapter 14- Climate Flashcards
What is climate?
The average weather over a large area of the world over a long period of time.
What are the 3 factors of climate?
Latitude- distance north or south of the equator
Distance from seas and oceans
Prevailing winds and air masses
What are local climates?
Regional climates over part of a country.
What are the 2 factors of local climate?
Altitude
Aspect- direction in which land is facing.
Why is altitude a factor?
Air is thinner, less able to retain heat, stronger winds, chill factor means it is colder.
Why is aspect a factor?
South facing facing have more sunshine, warm winds.
North facing slopes have less sunshine, cold winds.
South-facing slopes are warmer.
Why is latitude a factor?
Further from equator, colder it is as Suns rays are overhead near the equator.
Why is distance from seas or oceans a factor?
Land heats quickly in summer, loses heat quickly in winter.
Sea heats up slowly, loses heat slowly.
So places near sea are cooler in summer, warmer in winter.
Why is prevailing winds and air masses a factor?
If it blows from sea, it is cooler and wetter in the summer, warmer and wetter in winter, if it comes from land it is warmer and drier in summer, cooler and drier in winter.
