Climate and Weather

• Climate is the average weather condition in an area over a long period of time.
• Weather is the short-term changes in the atmospheric condition of a specified area.
• Factors that affect climate include Earth’s tilt (23.5º), Earth’s revolution, latitude, seasons, and topography.
• Earth’s tilt (23.5º) causes the changes in the amount of solar energy received at different latitudes, resulting in seasons.
• Latitude is the distance from the Earth’s equator (North or South).
• Three climatic zones are Tropical Zones, Temperate Zones, and Polar Zones.
• Global wind circulation distributes heat and moisture, affecting climate.
• Monsoons are AMIHAN (Northeast Monsoon) and HABAGAT (Southwest Monsoon).
• Bodies of water, such as lakes, seas, and oceans, have a significant impact on climate.
• The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a naturally occurring phenomenon that involves fluctuating ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.
• ENSO cycle includes El Niño (drought) and La Niña (rainy season).
• Topography, the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, also affects climate.
• Altitude, or height above sea level, also affects climate, with higher altitudes leading to colder climates.
• Vegetation, which includes plants considered collectively, found in a particular area or habitat, also affects temperature and amount of precipitation in a region.
• Type D: Snow Total precipitation is not high in amount, and seasonal temperatures vary greatly
• Zone A: tropical zone (blue)
• Type E: Polar Areas covered by permanent ice and tundra
• Climate Classification uses colors and shades to classify the world into five climate zones based on criteria like temperature, which allows for different vegetation growth.
• Type A: Tropical/Equatorial Tourist Maker high temperatures year-round and for their large amounts of perennial precipitation
• Zone E: polar zone (gray)
• Type B: Arid and Dry; low precipitation and humidity with huge daily temperature range
• Type C: Temperate Regions with cool winters and mild summers (ex: eastern USA)
• Type D: Snow presence of snowstorms and strong winds from the Arctic circle
• Zone B: arid or dry zone (red, pink, and orange colors)
• Koppen Climate Classification System uses colors and shades to classify the world into five climate zones based on criteria like temperature, which allows for different vegetation growth.
• Zone D: continental zone (purple, violet, and light blue)
• Zone C: warm/mild temperate zone (green)
• The factors affecting climate are temperature and precipitation
• Under temperature, theres latitude, altitude or elevation and ocean currents
• Under precipitation, there are prevailing winds and proximity to mountain ranges.
• Latitude is the measure of the distance north and south of the equator. The equator is what causes the change in temperature in different zones. Areas near the equator (0 degrees), receive direct rays of the sun, with higher solar radiation and more heat. For polar regions, there is less vegetation because sunlight is not sufficient. The countries near the equator have higher vegetation, high and consistent precipitation and ample amount of sunlight.
• Seasons - period of the year that is distinguished by special climate conditions
• Altitude or Elevation refers to the distance or elevation above the mean sea level. As a general rule, the density of air decreases as you move higher because less dense air cannot hold as much heat. Therefore the higher altitudes are colder, while lower altitudes are warmer. As you move up the atmosphere (high altitude), air pressure decreases, as you go to lower altitudes, the air pressure increases. We can say that less dense air cannot hold as much heat as dense air. Air particles move down because of gravity, thats why low altitude = higher pressure
• For ocean currents, it is a stream of water that flows in a definite path. It can fall under 2 sub-categories namely: Climate Regulation and Heat Redistribution. Climate regulation refers to the moderation of temperature and humidity. While on the other hand, Heat Redistribution refers to warmer water from equator that moves or flows to different zones, which can regulate temperatures. It prevents extreme heat in the equator, and extreme cold in the polar zone
• Proximity to Mountain Ranges - Mountains act like barriers between two places. They prevent moisture laden winds from reaching certain areas. Thus, these areas become arid and desertic. However, when moist winds reach mountains, they rise and condense into clouds. When this happens, the cloud drops their load onto the slopes of the mountains. This results to heavy rainfall.
• El Nino - A phenomenon characterized by unusually warm waters along the coast of Peru and Ecuador. El Nino occurs every few years and lasts several months. It brings droughts to Australia and Indonesia, floods to California and Peru, and severe weather changes all over the world.
• Prevailing winds are generally dominant surface winds that blow in a specific area. Different prevailing winds carry different amounts of moisture, affecting the amount of precipitation an area receives. More formation of clouds happen, making precipitation occur.
• Precipitation - any form of water, liquid or solid that falls from the atmosphere to the earth's surface
• Climate Regulation is moderating temperature and humidity
• Heat redistribution is when warmer water from the equator moves to the different zones which can regulate temperatures and prevents extreme heat near the equator and extreme cold in the polar zone