Guiding Questions: Climate Notes

Section 14.1 What is Climate?

1.Define climatology.
The study of Earths climate and the factors
that affect past, present, and future climatic
changes.
2.What factors does climate include in
addition to average weather conditions?
Climate also describes annual variations of
temperature, precipitation, wind, and other
weather variables.
3.Give two examples of how climatic data
can be used.
Climatic data can indicate the warmest and
coldest temperatures ever recorded for a
location. This and along with the comparison of
recent conditions with long-term averages can
be used by companies.
4.Why must we exercise caution when using
normals to predict weather?
Weather conditions on any given day might
differ widely from normal.
5.What factors cause climate?
Latitude, Topographic Effects, Air Masses
6.Why are coastal areas cooler in the
summer than inland areas?
Water heats up and cools down more slowly
than land.

7.Describe the relationship between

temperature and altitude.
Temperatures in lower areas generally
decrease with altitude.
8.Figure 14-3 depicts what effect of
orographic lifting that we discussed last
Friday? (HINT: return to those notes!)
Section 14.2 Climate Classification
1.Name the system used to classify climates.
What factors does it consider?
Koppen Classification System
2.List the six main climate types.
Tropical, Dry, Continental, Mild, Polar,
Microclimate
3.What climate type do we live in? List its
characteristics.
Mild. Mild climates can be classified into three
subtypes: humid subtropical climates, marine
west coast climates, and Mediterranean
climates. The southeastern United States has
this type of climate.
4.What is a microclimate? Give an example.
A localized climate that differs from the min
regional climate is called a microclimate. Andes
Mountains.
5.What is the heat island effect and where
does it occur?

The presence of many concrete buildings and

large expanses of asphalt can create heat
islands. The heat island effect occurs because
large areas of asphalt and concrete radiate far
more heat into the air than do grasslands,
wooded areas, and bodies of water.