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Earth's Climate Section 2.4
 * Summary of Section 2.4 **

In section 2.4, we learn about climate and the things that affect it. Latitude affects climate the most. People closer to the tropics receive a lot more direct sunlight and the tempature is much warmer then other places. Once out of the tropics and further away from the equator and closer to the poles, it ges colder. Climate zones are the particular weather patterns of a certain area. Climagrapghs explains the amount of precipitation and avergae tempature of a particular place or climate zone.


 * Things You Must Know **

1) What a climagraph is. 2) What a climate zone is and what all the climate zones are. 3) What major factors affect climate. 4) How each factor affects the climate 5) How Bear Grylls gets liquids in the Sahara.


 * Factors Affecting Climate **

Many factors affect a location's climate like latitude, elevation, large bodies of water, and where the place is located. Latitude affects climate because the Earth is warmer closer to the equator, because it recieves mor direct sunlight. An area further from the equator have colder average tempatures. Elevation can affects a climate because the higher the elevation, the colder the climate. Large bodies of water also affect a climate because ocean winds and warm-water currents keep temperatures even year-round in coastal areas. An area further away from a large body of water have more extreme climates.

media type="youtube" key="E7DLLxrrBV8?fs=1" height="385" width="480" Video of the major factors affecting climate.

Example of a climograph for Los Angeles, an area close to a large body of water. Large bodies of water result in more even tempatures.



Example of elevation affecting climate. Elevation affects climate, the higher the colder.


 * Climate Zones **

Climate zones are what geographers divide the earth into based on the average tempature and precipiation of an area. The 12 major climate zones are showcased below. Geographers also create climagraphs to show the average tempature and precipitation of a certain climate zone or area. The line graph of a climagraph indicates the average tempature, while the bar graph indicates the average rainfall. The letters on the bottom indicate the months of the year. An example of a climagraph is below.


 * Climate Zone Definitions **

1) Ice Cap: Very cold all year with permanent ice and snow 2) Subartic: Cold, snowy winters and cool, rainy summers 3) Tundra: Very cold winters, cold summers, and little precipitation. 4) Highlands: Tempature and precipitation vary with elevation and latitude. 5) Marine West Coast: Warm summers, cool winers, rainfall all year. 6) Humid Continental: Warm rainy summers and cold, snowy winters. 7) Mediterranean: Warm all year, with dry summers and short, rainy winters. 8) Humid Subtropical: Hot rainy summers and mild winters with some rain. 9) Semiarid: Hot dry summers and cool, dry winters. 10) Arid: Hot and dry all year with very little rain. 11) Tropical Wet and Dry: Hot all year with rainy and dry seasons. 12) Tropical Wet: Hot and rainy all year. media type="youtube" key="tFTpWy_gnVY?fs=1" height="385" width="480"Even Bear Grylls thinks that an arid climate is hot and dry. Example of a climagraph for a humid subtropical climate.


 * Geoterms **

1) Climate Zones: Zones the Earth is divided into according to the particular climate of an area. 2) Precipitation: Rain, Snow, and other forms of moisture falling from the sky. 3) Climagraph: A graph of the average tempature and precipitation of a certain climate zone or area. 4) Climate: Long term paterns in weather.

1) Which is the definition of climate?
 * Multiple Choice Questions **

a) the way people us the land they live on to meet there needs b) a graph showcasing the particular pattern of tempature and precipitation of a certain climate zone or area c) very cold winters, cold summers, and little precipitation d) long term patterns in weather for a certain area

2) Which best describes the Tundra climate zone?

a) hot all year with rainy and dry seasons. b) hot rainy summers and mild winters with some rain c) very cold winters, cold summers and little precipitation d) treeless plain with grasses mosses and scrubs adapted to a cold climate

3) What is Precipitation?

a) moisture falling from the sky in the form or rain, snow, sleet, or hail b) rain c) long term paterns in weather for a particular area d) the amount of sunshine an area recieves

4) Which affects an area's climate the most?

a) elevation b) latitude c) how close you are to the center of the Earth d) proximity to large bodies of water

5) Which best describes the Ice Cap climate zone?

a) hot and dry all year b) warm rainy summers, cool snowy winters c) very cold all year with permanent ice and snow d) cold snowy winters and cool rainy summers

6) Which best describes the Marine West Coast climate zone?

a) warm summers, cool winters and rain all year b) warm all year with dry summers and short rainy winters c) hot, dry summers and cool, dry winters d) hot and rainy all year

Key: 1(d) 2 (c) 3(a) 4(b) 5(c) 6(a)