What factors determine the climate of an area?
1. Climate is the typical weather pattern over an extended period of time. 2. Precipitation and temperature values can be used to describe the climate of a location. Seasonal variations of these values are also important. 3. The average temperature generally decreases with increasing elevation and latitude 4. Large bodies of water often modify climates of nearby areas. Water has a great ability to absorb heat due to its high specific heat. 5. Prevailing winds (p.15 Ref. Tables) and nearby ocean currents (p.4 Ref. Tables) may influence the climate. El Nino dramatically demonstrates the ocean’s effect on climates. 6. The leeward side of mountain barriers are generally drier and warmer than windward locations. The Earth in Space A. How can we account for our observations of celestial objects? 1. The sun’s apparent daily path through the sky is an arc. 2. In the United States the sun appears to rise in the eastern sky, moves through the southern sky, and sets in the western sky. 3. The sta
