The environment
Factors involved in climate
The climate of on area several factors, these factors change from one place to another. They depend on how far a place is from equator, how far it is from the ocean and its altitude.
Temperature: varies with distance from the equator and altitude. At high altitudes, the temperature is lower. At low altitudes, temperature is higher. Temperatures are milder on the coasts than in inland regions. This is due to the influence of the ocean.
Precipitation: such as rain, snow and hail, comes from the water in the atmosphere. There is more precipitation near the equator, on the coast and in the mountains. We use a rain gauge to measure precipitation.
Pressure: is the force s on that air exerts on the earth’s surface. Pressure varies with altitude. High areas have low pressure. Low areas have high pressure. We use a barometer to measure pressure.
Wind: is the movement of air. Winds move between areas that have different temperatures and pressures. We use an anemometer to measure wind speed. We use a weather vane to determine its direction.
Climatic zones: we can divide the earth into large climatic zones depending on the type of climate in each zone:
Tropical zone: is located between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. The temperatures are very high because the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the earth’s surface.
Polar zones: there are two; one is in the northern hemisphere, north of the Artic circle. The other is in the southern hemisphere, south of the Antarctic Circle. The temperatures at the poles a very low because the sun’s rays are very slanted when they reach the earth.
Temperate zones: there are two, on each hemisphere. They extend from the tropics to the polar circles. The temperatures in these areas are not extreme. This is because the sun’s rays are slightly slanted when they reach the earth.
The distribution of these zones generally depends on their distance from the equator. Within each zone, distance from the ocean and altitude also cause climatic differences.
Factors involved in climate
The climate of on area several factors, these factors change from one place to another. They depend on how far a place is from equator, how far it is from the ocean and its altitude.
Temperature: varies with distance from the equator and altitude. At high altitudes, the temperature is lower. At low altitudes, temperature is higher. Temperatures are milder on the coasts than in inland regions. This is due to the influence of the ocean.
Precipitation: such as rain, snow and hail, comes from the water in the atmosphere. There is more precipitation near the equator, on the coast and in the mountains. We use a rain gauge to measure precipitation.
Pressure: is the force s on that air exerts on the earth’s surface. Pressure varies with altitude. High areas have low pressure. Low areas have high pressure. We use a barometer to measure pressure.
Wind: is the movement of air. Winds move between areas that have different temperatures and pressures. We use an anemometer to measure wind speed. We use a weather vane to determine its direction.
Climatic zones: we can divide the earth into large climatic zones depending on the type of climate in each zone:
Tropical zone: is located between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. The temperatures are very high because the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the earth’s surface.
Polar zones: there are two; one is in the northern hemisphere, north of the Artic circle. The other is in the southern hemisphere, south of the Antarctic Circle. The temperatures at the poles a very low because the sun’s rays are very slanted when they reach the earth.
Temperate zones: there are two, on each hemisphere. They extend from the tropics to the polar circles. The temperatures in these areas are not extreme. This is because the sun’s rays are slightly slanted when they reach the earth.
The distribution of these zones generally depends on their distance from the equator. Within each zone, distance from the ocean and altitude also cause climatic differences.
jueves, 17 de septiembre de 2009