Model E Unit 2 Lesson 3 Exploration 3

Unit 2 Lesson 3
Exp 3
EXPLAINING WHAT INFLUENCES

CLIMATE
Learning
Objective
EXPLAIN HOW AIR
MASSES INTERACT
AND CAUSE
CHANGES IN
WEATHER
Vocabulary
Factors Create
Compare Similar
Determine
Essential Question
Compare today’s weather with your area’s
climate.
What do you think caused the weather today?
Might those factors be similar to factors that
determine the climate?
Factors That Influence Climate
Around the world, different climates exist, from hot to
cold and from dry to rainy.
Factors in the Earth system that influence climate
include prevailing winds, ocean currents, large bodies
of water, and landforms. Latitude and elevation also
affect climates
Latitude
The intensity of the sunlight is greater at the equator
than at the poles, so the temperature is higher at the
equator than at the poles.
Look at the diagram. These temperature differences

cause air pressure differences.
Along with Earth’s rotation, these pressure differences

result in global wind patterns and alternating belts of
high and low air pressure at different latitudes.
Latitude
Near the equator, warm, moist air rises and cools, and
water vapor condenses to form clouds and rain.
Therefore, rainy climates commonly exist near the
equator.
A similar process occurs near 60°N and 60°S, causing
rainy climates in those regions.
In contrast, cool, dry air sinks along high-pressure belts
near 30°N and 30°S and at the poles. These areas
commonly have dry climates
Prevailing Winds
Prevailing winds are global patterns of
wind that generally move in a certain
direction.
Prevailing winds affect climate because
they move air masses from one place to
another.
Prevailing
Winds
For example, cool, moist air
masses that form over the Pacific
Ocean are carried to the
northwest coast of the United
States by prevailing winds.
Prevailing winds also drive
ocean surface currents that travel
the globe and constantly move
both warm and cool ocean water.
Use the terms in the word bank to complete the table to summarize
patterns in air pressure, temperature, & precipitation at different latitudes
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents move water and distribute energy and nutrients around
the globe. Surface currents are driven by prevailing winds.
They carry warm water away from the equator and cool water away
from the poles. Currents moderate coastal cities’ temperatures as cold
currents cool warmer air and warm currents warm cooler air.
For example, the waters of the Gulf Stream move warm water from the
Gulf of Mexico northeastward toward Great Britain
Elevation
Elevation also influences climate. Elevation is a place’s
distance above sea level.
As elevation increases, air temperature decreases. It is
usually cooler at higher elevations and warmer at
lower elevations.
So, the air feels colder as hikers climb higher up a
mountain. Imagine cities at the same latitude and far
from a large body of water.
These cities can have very different climates if they are
at different elevations
Large Bodies of
Water
Different surfaces release energy at different rates.
For example, water absorbs and releases energy more
slowly than land does.
As a result, oceans keep the temperature of nearby
land from changing as much as it would if there was no
water nearby.
Large Bodies of
Water
Therefore, the temperatures of coastal areas do not
tend to vary as greatly as areas that are farther
inland along similar latitudes.
Nearby bodies of water increase the amount of water
in the air.
Because of this, places near large bodies of water
often receive more precipitation than they would if the
body of water were not present.
Landforms such as tall mountains can create very
different climates on each side of the mountain.
In some places, prevailing winds move moist air

toward mountains. As the moist air rises to pass over
the mountain, it cools and condenses into clouds and
precipitation.
Landforms
Rain or snow falls on the side of the mountain where
the prevailing winds are coming from.
The air that reaches the other side of the mountain is

drier, so very little precipitation occurs. This side is said
to be in a rain shadow
Compare Climates
Today I learned …..
Latitudes
Prevailing winds
Exit Ticket
Elevation
Latitude
Albedo Effect

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Unit 2 Lesson 3

EXPLAINING WHAT INFLUENCES

Look at the diagram. These temperature differences

Along with Earth’s rotation, these pressure differences

In some places, prevailing winds move moist air

The air that reaches the other side of the mountain is

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