Describe five factors that affect climate. Lab 3: Climatology Basics 2022-11-01
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There are many factors that can affect climate, both natural and human-induced. Here are five significant factors that can influence climate:
Solar radiation: The amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is a major factor in determining climate. Factors such as the Earth's distance from the sun and the angle at which the sun's rays hit the Earth's surface can affect how much radiation is received. The Earth's atmosphere also plays a role in regulating the amount of solar radiation that reaches the surface.
Greenhouse gases: Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing the planet to warm. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can be affected by a variety of factors, including human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, as well as natural processes such as volcanic eruptions and the decay of organic matter.
Oceans: Oceans have a significant influence on climate, as they have a high capacity to store heat. The movement of ocean currents can also affect climate, as warmer currents can bring warmth to nearby land masses, while colder currents can have a cooling effect.
Land surface: The type of land surface can also affect climate. For example, forests and other vegetation can have a cooling effect on the local climate due to the process of evapotranspiration, in which water is released into the atmosphere through the leaves of plants. In contrast, urban areas with lots of concrete and asphalt can have a warming effect due to the "urban heat island" effect.
Volcanoes: Volcanoes can affect climate by releasing large amounts of ash, dust, and gases into the atmosphere. These substances can block sunlight, leading to a cooling effect on the Earth's surface. Volcanoes can also release large amounts of greenhouse gases, which can contribute to warming.
Overall, these are just a few of the many factors that can affect climate. Understanding how these factors interact and influence one another is crucial for predicting and managing the impacts of climate change.
5 Ways Climate Change Will Affect You: Crop Changes
The rain shadow area receives no rainfall whereas the other area receives heavy rainfall due to mountains. Another example of this is transportation and urbanization. An Introduction to Dynamical Meteorology, 4th ed. Sun provides energy for living organisms, and it drives our planet's weather and climate by creating temperature gradients in the atmosphere and oceans. The oceans have absorbed But as vast as the seas are, there is a 1. Toxic wastes from factories poison the ecosystems that are in a very unstable balance with nature. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.
Dry, even desert-like conditions often occur at 30˚ north and south latitude because the descending dry air draws moisture from the soil Figure 3. Developing and Using Models 3. During cold periods, when much of the land was covered in snow and ice, the amount of land available for terrestrial organisms to inhabit decreased, increasing competition for resources. Although the cutting down of rainforests and carbon emissions from cars can cause a great deal of gas to sit in the atmosphere, there is another part of land-use that is often overlooked as a major factor of global warming. This 23,000-year precession of the equinoxes changes the orientation of the planet relative to its location in orbit Figure 5C.
List out the five main factors which affect the climate of a region.
Methane byproduct of digestion in cow stomachs composition in the air is increasing at an alarming rate because of these plants. Word This file is only accessible to verified educators. Go to Additional Resources Explore background information and content extensions related to Lab 3. And many species that depend on ocean currents for reproduction and nutrients will be affected. Time required: 50 minutes Tools needed: Adobe Reader, Internet browser, Lab Materials, Colored Pencils.
Winds If winds have been blown from a hot area, they will raise temperatures. Although human action is one of these factors, there are more factors that must be addressed in this discussion. Alternately, keep a class calendar or log of weather events throughout the time you are working on this unit. These are summarised below. Thus, the northern piece of India is in the subtropical and calm zone, while the southern part is in the equatorial jungle area. Not only does this addition to the air create a heat blanket, but also makes an uninhabitable environment for humans to live in. Warming oceans alter currents Climate change affects ocean temperatures as well as wind patterns — taken together, these can alter oceanic currents.
Both are linked above Then, continue the discussion by talking about Global patterns of weather and climate, such as wind patterns. North America No place grows more corn than the midwestern United States. In many countries, developing utility-scale renewable energy is now cheaper than or on par with fossil fuel plants. How much does this affect marine life? Prevailing winds in northern and southern latitudes help to create cold-water surface currents that flow back toward the equator along the west coast of continents. Water molecules condense to form clouds and eventually fall as rain. On the coast, winters are mild, and summers are cool. As elevation increases, the air becomes less dense.
A dramatic decrease in sea ice — and seafood — pushes polar bears toward coastal communities and hunting camps to find food, bringing them into closer contact and potential conflict with people. The beginnings of this problem are evident in the increased asthma cases in industrial areas. Earth's spin creates three belts of circulation Figure 2. The Himalayas additionally trap rainstorm winds, driving them to scatter their dampness across the Indian subcontinent. To save time, the reading can be assigned as homework.
India lies in the area of north easterly breezes. As the gas residing in the atmosphere rises, it experiences feeling less pressure, hence causing it to expand. This lab requires a computer with Internet connection. In inland areas, temperatures are high in the summer and cold in the winter. How does this affect wildlife? The combination of oceanic and atmospheric circulation drives global climate by redistributing heat and moisture.
The result is an increase in the salinity of ocean waters. There will be more infrastructure built in the next 20 years than in the past 6,000, the president told the audience. Time required: 150 minutes or 3-4 class periods are needed to complete these labs. Topography Topography refers to the shape of the land. . Five factors affect climate. The overall diversity of the environment can be involved in greater competition for resources.
Cause and Effect 3. Just as Earth's rotation creates the prevailing winds, it creates surface currents within the oceans. Time required: 50-60 minutes In Part C: Students zoom in one more time to study weather data at the local level, reviewing a variety of charts, maps, and graphs that document weather at the meso- and micro- scales. The lab starts with a discussion of weather versus climate using sentence strips. Developing countries want to develop - to catch up with developed countries - and this normally means using more energy and burning more fuel. In a 100,000-year cycle, the orbit shifts from one that is nearly circular to one that is elongated, pulling the planet further from its energy source Figure 5A. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1993 Holton, J. Land-Use Change Land use change is the category that human activity would most likely fall under. In this way, glaciers and polar ice caps continue to grow during periods when incident sunlight is low. Air circulates from the tropics to regions approximately 30° north and south latitude, where the air masses sink. Less dense air cannot hold as much heat as dense air, meaning as elevation increases, temperature decreases.
