Climate

• Climate is the general pattern of weather in a certain area over a long period of time
• Weather is the condition of atmosphere at a specific place and time
• Climate variability refers to changes in climate from one year to another
• Latitude measures the distance north or south of the equator
• As latitude increases the average annual temperature decreases
• Altitude is a measurement of an objects height, often referring to your height above the ground
• Elevation is often the preferred term for the height of tour current location
• As elevation increases the annual temperature decreases
• Closeness to large bodies of water means that the distance from the sea/oceans heat up and cool down much more slowly than in land
• Water moderates the temperature.

  Cooler summers. Warmer winters.
• Orographic effect is the situation in which all the rain falls on the windward side of a mountain range resulting in a leeward slope of the mountain range receiving very little raine
• Orographic effect is the situation in which all the rain falls on the windward side of a mountain range resulting in a leeward slope of the mountain range receiving very little raine
• Rain shadow means that they do not get much rain due to the mountains blocking the rain
• Windward side:cool, moist

  Leeward side:warm, dry
• Ocean currents describe the movement of water from one location to another
• Warm currents: warmer climate

  Cold currents:cooler climate