LACEMOP

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LACEMOP

• Factors that Shape Weather

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Some Definitions
Weather a condition of the atmosphere in one
place during a short period of time Climate
weather patterns typical for an area over a long
period of time
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Latitude
Earth-Sun Relationships seasons and atmospheric
scattering and energy spreading.
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Air Masses
Air masses take on the weather of the place
from which they came. Convectional
PrecipitationTypical of hot climates
convection occurs after morning sunshine heats
warm moist air. Clouds form in the afternoon and
the rain falls.
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Convectional Precipitation
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Fontal Precipitation when 2 fronts of different
temperatures meet. Warm air forced upward by
heavier, cool air. Rising warm air cools
precipitation Most common type
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Continentality
Large bodies of water have moderating effect on
land temperatures. Why? Land and water absorb and
store energy at different rates. Land changes
quickly water more slowly. Opposite air blows
off the water and moderates land temperature.
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Mid-Latitudes a) summerwarm masses of air from
the Tropics b) winter cold masses of air from
the high latitudes
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Elevation
a) Height above sea level b) Temperature
decreases as elevation increases
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Mountain Barriers

• Can block air masses and cause precipitation.
• Orographic Precipitation warm moist air
  forcedupward when passing over a mountain. Warm
  winds cool as they rise over the mountains and
  clouds form

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• Air is warm and dry on the other side
• Windward mountain side which faces the ocean
• Leeward mountain side which is in a rain
  shadow (no precipitation received)

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Ocean Currents

• Help to distribute heat
• Carry warm water from tropics to poles and
  return cold water to the Equator
• Winds affect current movement
• Air masses take on water temperature

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Pressure Wind

• Rising warm air low pressure
• Falling cool air high pressure
• Wind moves high to low
• Movement from equator to poles and back
• Coriolis Effect rotation of the earth bends the
  patterns of the wind

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Winds blow in constant patterns and are called
prevailing winds. Historical Fact Many were
named for the direction they blewsome were even
given names because they were used by trading
ships through the region
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Trade winds -- blow from the northeast toward the
Equator and from the southeast toward the
equator Westerlies prevailing winds in the
mid-latitudes blow diagonally west to east Polar
Easterlies blow diagonally in the high
latitudes east to westpushing the cold air
toward the mid latitudes
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Doldrums windless area near the equator
Horse Latitudes Historically, ships would
lighten their loads in order to take advantage of
the slightest wind such as cargo, excess supplies
and livestockthis also included horse.
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Greenhouse Effect
Earths atmosphere acts a a greenhouse trapping
50 of the suns heat radiation. Clouds, water
vapor and carbon dioxide absorbs the heat
reflected by the earth and radiates it back
again to keep the balance
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Global Warming

• Global Warming Scientists claim that there has
  been a rise in CO2 levels and that has caused a
  rise in global temperatures.
• Burning of coal, oil and natural gas has caused
  the CO2 levels to riseincreased burning will
  trap more heat in the atmosphere

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• Some scientists predict it will cause more
  extreme global weather patterns such as rapid
  water evaporation causing drier soils between
  rain and humidity might increase due to rapid
  evaporation in the oceans
• Not all scientists agree on the nature of global
  warminghmmmmm!