What is climate?
Climate refers to the average year-after-year conditions of temperature, precipitation, wind, and clouds in an area.
What factors affect temperature?
latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, and ocean currents
Are areas near the equator warmer or cooler than areas near the poles?
warmer
Which temperature zone is closest to the equator?
Tropical zone
Which temperature zone do we live in?
Temperate
What are the temperature zones farthest from the equator called?
Polar zones
What is altitude?
The height above or below sea level
Where is it colder: the base of a mountain or its peak?
The peak
How do oceans or large bodies of water affect temperature?
They moderate temperature and make it less extreme
Why do large bodies of water (oceans, lakes) moderate temperatures on nearby land?
Water heats up and cools down more slowly than land.
What type of climate is found on the west coasts of North America, South America, and Europe?
Marine climates
What type of climate occurs when a location is too far inland to be warmed or cooled by the ocean?
Continental climate
How do ocean currents affect climate?
They can heat or cool air in marine climates.
What factors affect precipitation?
Prevailing winds, presence of mountains, and seasonal winds
What are the winds that usually blow in one direction in a region?
Prevailing winds
How do prevailing winds affect precipitation?
Prevailing winds can bring humid air masses or dry air masses. More humid air masses can cause more precipitation.
