Weather and Climate

weather is short-term and localized climate is long-term averages deviations and extremes

Elements of Weather and Climate:

• Latitude
  • colder as you move poleward
    • sun’s rays are oblique
    
    
    
• Land and Water Distribution
  
  • continental and maritime climates
    
    
    
    
• General Circulation of the Atmosphere (wind currents)
  • semi-permanent pattern of major winds
    • e.g. Westerlies
      
      
      
• General Circulation of the Oceans (ocean currents)
  
  
  
  
  
• Topographic Barriers & Elevation

• Block movement of air
• Create wet climates on windward side and arid climate on leeward side
• Sierra Nevada rainshadow and the Hawaiian Islands (Hilo 150 vs. 9 in)
  
  

• Pressure Belts & Storms
  • semipermanent pressure cells of highs & lows
    (most of this is covered in the future in Chapter 5)