Study Notes:

Latitude and Climate

1. Definitions

 Latitude: Horizontal lines that measure the distance north or south of the
Equator.
 Longitude: Vertical lines that measure the distance east or west of the Prime
Meridian.

2. Weather vs. Climate

 Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions.

 Climate: Long-term patterns of weather in a particular area.

3. Factors Affecting Climate

 Latitude plays a key role in determining a region’s climate.

 The Earth’s tilt (23.5°) affects how sunlight is distributed across different
latitudes.
 Areas closer to the Equator receive more direct sunlight and are warmer.
 Areas farther from the Equator receive less sunlight and are colder.

4. Climate Zones Based on Latitude

1. Tropical Zone (0° – 23.5° N/S)

 Located near the Equator.

 Hot climate all year round (average 25-28°C).
 Only two seasons: Wet and Dry.
 Examples: Philippines, Indonesia.

2. Temperate Zone (23.5° – 66.5° N/S)

 Located between the tropical and polar zones.

 Experiences four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn.
 Examples: Japan, Germany.

3. Polar Zone (66.5° – 90° N/S)

 Found near the North and South Poles.

 Extremely cold climate with long winters.
 Examples: Alaska, Arctic Circle.

5. The Effect of Latitude on Climate

 Closer to the Equator → Warmer temperatures (due to direct sunlight).

 Farther from the Equator → Colder temperatures (due to indirect
sunlight).
  Earth's tilt and shape cause uneven heating of the surface.

6. Example Locations and Their Climate

 Japan (36.2°N, 138.3°E) – Temperate zone (experiences four seasons).

 Alaska (63.6°N, 154.5°E) – Polar zone (cold climate).
 Indonesia (0.8°N, 113.9°E) – Tropical zone (wet and dry seasons).
 Philippines (12.9°N, 121.8°E) – Tropical zone (wet and dry seasons).
 Germany (51.2°N, 10.5°E) – Temperate zone (four seasons).

7. Seasonal Differences Between Hemispheres

 United States (Northern Hemisphere): Winter from December–February.

 Australia (Southern Hemisphere): Summer from December–February.

Quiz Questions

1. The higher the latitude, the _________ the temperature.

o a) higher
o b) lower
o c) lesser
o d) more

2. The _______ the latitude, the higher the temperature.

o a) higher
o b) lesser
o c) more
o d) lower

3. Japan is located at 36.2°N, 138.3°E. What type of climate does it experience?

o a) Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring

o b) Winter
o c) Wet
o d) Dry

4. If you travel from a tropical climate to snowy Hokkaido, what clothes should you
wear?

o a) T-shirt
o b) Swimwear
 o c) Thick clothes
o d) Gown

5. How does latitude affect the climate of an area?

o Answer: The closer an area is to the Equator, the ________ it is due to

direct sunlight. The farther it is from the Equator, the _______ it
becomes due to less direct sunlight.

Topography and Climate

Key Terms:

 Topography – The physical features of an area of land.

 Mountain – A landform that rises high above the surrounding land, higher
than a hill.
 Vegetation – A collection of plant species and the ground cover they provide.
 Arid – Very dry, with little rainfall or water.
 Condensation – The process where gas cools and turns into liquid.
 Precipitation – Water released from clouds in various forms such as rain,
snow, sleet, or hail.

How Topography Affects Climate:

 Mountains Influence Weather Patterns

o Warm, moist air is pushed up the windward side of the mountain.

o As air rises, it cools, condenses, and forms clouds.
o This results in precipitation on the windward side.

 Rain Shadow Effect

o The leeward side of the mountain receives little to no precipitation.

o Dry air descends, increasing temperature and creating arid conditions.
o This forms a rain shadow—a dry area behind the mountain.

Windward vs. Leeward:

Feature Windward Side Leeward Side

Temperature Cooler Warmer
Moisture More precipitation Less precipitation
Vegetation Lush, more plants Sparse, dry land
Effect on Climate Supports life and agriculture Forms deserts and grasslands

Activity Highlights:

 Water vapor rises over the mountain, condensing into clouds.

  Windward side experiences lower temperatures and high precipitation.
 Leeward side is warmer and drier, forming a rain shadow.

Quiz Questions:

1. What is the term for the area of high land away from the wind?
a) Land Breeze
b) Windward
c) Leeward
d) Sea Breeze.

2. How does the windward side of the mountain differ from the leeward side?
a) The windward receives more precipitation.
b) The leeward has more vegetation.
c) The windward side receives more heat.
d) The leeward receives more precipitation.

3. Why are deserts found on the leeward side?

a) High temperature, less precipitation
b) Clouds always form here
c) It faces where the wind blows
d) Low temperature

Altitude and Its Effect on Climate

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the relationship between altitude and temperature.

2. Explain how altitude affects climate.
3. Recognize human adaptation to different climatic conditions.

Key Terms:

 Altitude – The height of an object or location above sea level.

 Elevation – The height of a geographic location relative to sea level.
 Sea Level – The base level used for measuring elevation and depth.
 Atmospheric Pressure – The force exerted by air due to gravity.
 Density – The amount of mass in a given volume of a substance.
 Annual Average Temperature – The mean of maximum and minimum
temperatures of a location over a year.
  Scatter Graph – A chart used to show relationships between variables.

How Altitude Affects Climate:

 General Rule: The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature.
 For every 1,000m increase in elevation, temperature drops by
approximately 6.5°C.
 Air Pressure and Temperature Relationship:

o Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude.

o At higher elevations, the air is less dense, leading to colder
temperatures.
o Low air pressure means fewer gas molecules, which reduces heat
absorption.

Examples:

 Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa)

o Latitude: 3.0674° S
o Elevation: 5895m
o Despite being near the equator, it has a cold climate due to high
altitude.

 Baguio vs. Manila (Philippines)

o Baguio (high altitude) – Cooler temperatures.

o Manila (low altitude) – Warmer temperatures.

Why is it Colder at Higher Elevations?

 Air expands as it rises, reducing the chances of molecules bumping into each
other and generating heat.
 Mountain climbers wear thick clothing because temperatures drop at higher
altitudes.

Quiz Questions:

1. What decreases as elevation increases?

a) Clouds
b) Latitude
c) Precipitation
d) Temperature

2. What happens to temperature when altitude increases?

a) Remains the same
b) Increases
 c) Decreases
d) Varies

3. What is the relationship between elevation and climate?

a) Higher elevation = Colder climate
b) Lower elevation = Colder climate
c) Higher elevation = Warmer climate
d) No relationship

4. Why do places at the same latitude but different altitudes have different
climates?
a) Heat received varies
b) Precipitation differs
c) Higher altitudes have lower temperatures
d) Temperature increases as altitude decreases

5. Why do mountain climbers bring thick jackets?

a) Temperature increases as altitude increases
b) Temperature decreases as altitude increases
c) Altitude increases as temperature increases
d) Altitude decreases as temperature increases

Distance from Bodies of Water and Its Effect on Climate

Learning Objective:

 Explain how the distance from an ocean or large body of water affects the
climate of an area.

Key Terms:

 Specific Heat – The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one
gram of a substance by 1°C.
 Heat Capacity – The ability of a substance to store heat; water has a high
heat capacity, meaning it can store large amounts of heat.
 Line Graph – A chart used to show data trends over time.

How Distance from Water Affects Climate:

 Water Heats and Cools More Slowly than Land

o Soil heats up and cools down quickly, while water retains heat
longer.
o Coastal areas experience cooler summers and warmer winters
compared to inland areas.
o Inland regions experience extreme climates (hot summers, cold
winters) due to the absence of water to moderate temperature.

Experiment: Which Heats and Cools Faster?

o Soil heats up faster than water.

o Soil cools down faster than water after removing the heat source.
o Water’s high specific heat causes it to heat and cool slowly, helping
to moderate the climate in coastal regions.

How Bodies of Water Regulate Temperature:

o Water absorbs and slowly releases heat, keeping coastal climates

mild.
o Large bodies of water circulate warm and cold air, preventing
sudden temperature changes.
o Examples:

 Coastal cities have a moderate climate with smaller

temperature variations.
 Inland cities experience extreme temperatures due to the lack
of water regulation.

Why Do Areas Far from Water Have Extreme Climates?

 No large body of water to store and regulate heat.

 Inland areas experience higher temperature variations between day and
night and between seasons.

Quiz Questions:
 1. Which has a higher specific heat, land or water?
a) Land
b) Water
c) Both have the same
d) None of the above

2. Why do coastal areas have milder climates?

a) Water heats and cools quickly
b) Water heats and cools slowly
c) Water does not affect climate
d) Land absorbs more heat

3. What happens to the temperature of soil and water after removing the heat
source?
a) Both stay the same
b) Soil cools faster than water
c) Water cools faster than soil
d) Both cool at the same rate

4.Why do inland areas have extreme temperatures?

a) They are closer to the equator
b) They have no large bodies of water to moderate the climate
c) They receive more sunlight
d) They have more vegetation

5.How does a body of water regulate temperature?

a) It absorbs and slowly releases heat
b) It only absorbs heat
c) It prevents wind circulation
d) It has no effect on temperature

Study Notes on Ocean Currents

1. Definition of Ocean Currents

 Large streams of moving ocean water.

 Can be classified into:
o Surface Currents: Driven by wind.
o Deep Ocean Currents: Driven by temperature and salinity
differences.
2. Gyre

 A large system of circulating ocean currents.

 Formed due to large-scale wind movements.

3. Coriolis Effect

 The apparent curving of winds and currents due to Earth's rotation.

 Winds and currents move:

o Clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

o Counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

4. Warm and Cold Currents

 Warm currents:

o Originate near the equator and move towards higher latitudes

(poles).

 Cold currents:
o Originate near the poles and move towards lower latitudes (tropics).
 Ocean currents influence the temperature of the air above them.

5. What Drives Ocean Currents?

 Forces affecting ocean currents:

o Earth’s rotation (Coriolis Effect)
o Wind patterns
o Temperature and salinity differences
o Moon’s gravitational pull

6. Thermohaline Circulation (Global Conveyor Belt)

 Deep-ocean currents driven by:

o Temperature (thermo)
o Salinity (haline)
 Helps regulate Earth's climate by moving heat around the globe.

7. Effects of Ocean Currents on Climate

 Warm currents:
o Increase temperature in coastal regions.
o Promote moisture-laden winds and rainfall.
 Cold currents:

o Decrease temperature in coastal regions.

o Can cause desertification due to lack of moisture.
8. Examples of Ocean Currents

Warm Water Currents

 Kuroshio Current
 Gulf Stream
 Agulhas Current
 North Equatorial Current

Cold Water Currents

 Labrador Current
 Kamchatka Current
 East Australian Current
 Greenland Current

9. Regional Effects of Ocean Currents

 Greenland Current:

o Brings cold air from the poles to the equator.

 Kamchatka Current & Kuroshio Current (Japan):

o Kamchatka Current brings cold water, lowering temperatures in
northeastern Japan.
o Kuroshio Current brings warm water, increasing temperatures in
southern Japan.

10. Impact on South Africa’s Coasts

 Warm currents (e.g., Agulhas Current) cause:

o Warmer temperatures.
o Increased precipitation.
 Cold currents (e.g., Benguela Current) cause:

o Lower temperatures.
o Less rainfall, leading to desertification in coastal areas.