SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK

Subject: SCIENCE Grade: 9 Level: JHS Quarter: 3 Week: 5

MELC : Explain how different factors affect the COMPETENCY CODE: S9ES-IIIe-30
climate of an area

OBJECTIVES
K - describe the different factors affecting the climate of an area
S – justify the differences of weather and climate in certain regions in the Philippines
A – demonstrate understanding of the existing climate of the given area.

Name: ____________________________ Grade Level & Section: ___________ Date:________

School: ______________________________________________ District: ___________________________

A. READINGS/DISCUSSION
Weather describes the day-to-day state of the atmosphere while climate is defined as the
cumulative patterns of weather in a particular place over time.
Climate is affected by two primary factors: temperature and precipitation. Both of them
are influenced by other factors. Temperature is influenced by latitude, proximity to large bodies
of water, and elevation. Precipitation, on the other hand, is influenced by topography or the
proximity of a place to mountain ranges and wind.
Factors that Influence Temperature
Latitude
The Earth’s axial tilt and a place’s distance from the equator (north or south) define its
climate. The measurement of distance north or south of the equator is called latitude. There are
five latitudinal sections of the Earth as shown below. Each of these latitudinal sections
experiences a different climate.

https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_world-regional-geography-people-places-and-globalization/s04-01-geography-basics.html

The Earth rotates on its axis at an angle of 23.5°. The Northern and Southern Hemispheres will
point towards or away from the Sun at certain times of the year. Because of its tilt, the places in these areas
receive varied amounts and lengths of exposure to the sun, creating different seasons. Meanwhile, places
near the equator are directly exposed to the sun, hence, they are warmer and have only wet and dry
seasons.

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 https://www.ck12.org/earth-science/solar-energy-and-latitude/lesson/Solar-Energy-and-Latitude-MS-ES/

As the latitude increases north or south of the equator, the temperature decreases.

Proximity to Large Bodies of Water

The climate of the place is influenced by the surrounding bodies of water. Soil absorbs heat faster
than water. At the same time, soil releases heat faster compared to water. These slow absorption and
release of heat by the body of water greatly affect the climate. Places that are near the oceans have
moderate climates as the body of water regulates the temperature. Even as both soil and water absorb the
same amount of heat, the temperature of water rises more slowly than that of soil. Because soil heats up
faster than water, the air temperature above the sea is lower than above ground during the daytime. Warm
air thus moves out from land to sea, slowing down the rise of air temperature above land. Thus, places
without a body of water nearby tend to have higher air temperature during day time
Areas located on the windward side of islands (areas where the wind blows from the sea to the
land) are cool and moist. Areas on the leeward side (areas where the wind blows from land to the sea) are
warm and dry. Islands are surrounded by bodies of water and can have windward and leeward sides.
Air temperature is affected by the distance of landmasses to bodies of water depending on the
temperature of ocean currents, which are blown into the land from the sea.

Elevation
Temperature decreases with elevation (also known as altitude). The higher the altitude, the lower
the temperature. So, if you travel from a lowland to a highland, you will notice that the temperature will
drop.

Factors that Influence Precipitation

Topography
Topography is another factor that affects the climate of a certain place. One of the topographic
features of an area is a mountain. Mountainous areas greatly affect the amount of precipitation in a certain
region. It influences precipitation in two ways: the orographic effect and the rain shadow effect.
The topographic effect refers to the dynamics of air and precipitation on the windward slope of
mountains. The area in which the wind blows is called the windward side. Here, the wind is blocked by the
mountain, forcing it to move upward. As it moves up, the water vapor condenses and forms clouds. This
will result in precipitation on the windward side.
The rain shadow effect occurs on the leeward slope of the mountain. The air moves down
towards the opposite region called the leeward side. The cold air mass starts to absorb heat and becomes

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warm and dry. As a result, the area near the leeward side becomes dry and has less precipitation. The dry
region on the leeward side is called rain shadow. Vegetation in this region includes desert plants and
grassland.

Wind
Wind is the movement of air caused by the heat from the sun. Winds that come from a warm area
bring about warm temperature while winds that come from cool area cools the air. Wind travelling
vertically can push warm air upward, which cools down and form rain clouds. When saturated with
moisture, these rain clouds produce precipitations. Cool air sinks and becomes warmer.
B. EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1
A. DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions to check your understanding of what you had just
read.
1. How much is the tilt of the earth’s axis?
2. Which part of the earth receives most of the sun’s rays?
3. Why does the amount of heat received by places far from the equator become less?
4. Why are the coldest places on Earth found near the poles?
5. Why are places with high temperatures found at the equator?
6. How do latitude, elevation, and proximity to large bodies of water affect climate?

B. DIRECTIONS: Study the illustration below and answer the questions that follow.

1. What happens to water vapor as it rises over the mountain?

2. Which side of the mountain experiences low temperature?
3. Which side of the mountain experiences high temperature?
4. What happens when air becomes warmer and drier as it moves down the leeward side?
5. What dry region forms at the back of the mountain?
6. How does topography affect climate?

EXERCISE 2
Directions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Study Figure 1. It shows the imaginary continent, wind directions (represented by
arrows), mountains, and bodies of water. Points A, B, & C are in the foothills of the

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 mountains; point D is located at sea level; and point E is high in the mountains. Examine
the direction of the prevailing winds.

a. What is the direction of prevailing winds at the following locations?

a.1 Between 30° North and the Equator ________________
a.2 North of 30° North Latitude _____________
a.3 Between 90° N and 60° North Latitude ______________
2. Examine locations A and B.
b. What is the temperature in location A? location B?
____________________________________________________________________________
c. Which factor causes the difference in temperature?
____________________________________________________________________________
d. Which location, A and B, do you expect to have greater annual rainfall? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Examine location E.
e. What is the temperature in location E?
____________________________________________________________________________

f. Which factor contributes to the temperature in location E?

____________________________________________________________________________

4.Study Figure 2. It shows the sides (windward & leeward) of the mountain and direction of
prevailing winds (Warm & Dry Air).

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 g. Which side of the mountain experiences low temperature? high temperature?
___________________________________________________________________________
h. What happens to warm moist air as it rises over the mountain? dry air as it moves down the
mountain?
___________________________________________________________________________
i. What kind of land area is formed in the leeward side of the mountain? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________
j. Explain briefly how topography influences climate?
___________________________________________________________________________

C. ASSESSMENT/APPLICATION/OUTPUTS (Please refer to DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2020)

I. DIRECTIONS: True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is
NOT correct. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The equator receives much of the radiant energy released by the sun, so places near
the equator have a warm climate.
2. The areas closer to the poles receive more amount of heat because the angle of
sunlight becomes smaller.
3. When the area is farther from the equator, the temperature is higher.
4. The air temperature decreases as the altitude increases.
5. Soil heats up faster than water. Soil releases heat faster than water.
6. Mountain ranges do not affect the formation of precipitation.
7. Areas at high altitudes have cool climates, despite of their latitude.
8. In summer, coastal areas are cooler while inland is warmer.
9. The windward side receives less precipitation hence, it has lush vegetation.
10. Places with the same latitudes but different latitudes have different climates.
II. DIRECTIONS: Complete the sentences below by writing the missing words.
1. ___________ is the cumulative pattern of weather in a particular place over time.
2. Climate is affected by __________ and the __________________.
3. Temperature is affected by _______________, _________________, and
__________________.
4. Precipitation is affected by __________________ and _______________.
5. Orographic effect occurs on the ______________ side of a mountain.
6. _______________________ occurs on the leeward side of the mountain and is
characterized by dry air and less rainfall.

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D. Suggested Enrichment/Reinforcement Activity.
Climate Brochure
Directions: The Philippines’ tourism industry contributed greatly in the country’s economy. A lot of
tourists come and go, including local tourists. As a student, you are tasked to make a climate brochure
that will help the tourists prepare for their travel and have the best experience. Choose one (1) tourist
spot in the country. You can also promote a place in your locality that can be a good tourist
destination. In your brochure, discuss the climate experienced in the place where the tourist spot is
located throughout the year. Consider the factors that affect the climate in your discussion and as you
suggest how they can travel to that place at certain times of the year and the clothes that they can wear.
Be guided by the rubrics below.

References
MELC p. 333 , LM pp. 220 – 236, TG pp. 188-199
Exploring Life Through Science (ELTS) – K to 12 Edition, Science 9, pp. 320 – 323.
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_world-regional-geography-people-places-and-globalization/s04-01-
geography-basics.html
https://www.ck12.org/earth-science/solar-energy-and-latitude/lesson/Solar-Energy-and- Latitude-MS-
ES/

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