Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE OF BOTOLAN

(Formerly Botolan Community College)
Botolan Zambales
E-mail: polytechniccollegeofbotolan@gmail.com
Website: www.pcb2009.net

Module in Soc Sci Ac 1

BASIC GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

I. MODULE TITLE: LESSON 16: WEATHER AND CLIMATE

II. EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 Compare and differentiate weather as climate; explain the

elements and the latitudinal distribution of climate of the
world.
III. INTRODUCTION
Before we can fully understand the difference between weather and
climate, and how they change, it is important to know where these changes
occur and how they happen. Therefore, it is necessary to talk about the
atmosphere, the layer of gaseous material that envelops the Earth and where
all phenomena of weather and climate occur. Whatever the condition: of the
atmosphere directly above a particular place, at a particular time, define the
weather characteristics of that place.
IV. SUBJECT CONTENT
Atmosphere. The atmosphere is composed of different gases such as nitrogen,
oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and others. Generally, nitrogen comprises
about 78%, oxygen about 21% while the remaining one percent (1%) is for
hydrogen, carbon dioxide, argon and other inert gases.
Layers of the Atmosphere. The atmosphere is divided into several parts or
layers. The lowest layer is the troposphere, followed by the stratosphere,
mesosphere and ionosphere in that order. It is within the troposphere, where all
aspects of weather and climate affecting man occur. On the other hand, it is
within the stratosphere where the ozone layer is found. The ozone layer is very
important to man as well as to other life forms on earth. It is the layer that is
composed of 0ᶾ or three atoms of oxygen, which filters the ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun entering the Earth. Too much ultraviolet radiation is bad for the
skin for it could cause skin cancer. However, it is also used to cure certain
diseases with proper precautions in its use.
Atmosphere and Temperature. Temperature is an important element of
climate. It is the degree of hotness or coldness of the atmosphere. Whatever
the temperature of the atmosphere directly above a particular place, will define
the weather conditions of that place. Temperature, however, is also influenced
by certain factors such as altitude and latitude. As the altitude of a place
increases, atmospheric temperature decreases. This is the reason why places
that are found on top of mountains or places that are elevated by several
thousands of feet above sea level are relatively cooler than those at sea level. A
good example is Baguio City or the mountain provinces. If you have observed,
as you travel to these places, the temperature of the air gradually gets colder as
you increase in elevation.
Weather. Weather is the condition the air or the atmosphere in general, at a
particular moment or over a short period of time, over a particular place. It is
what we experience from day to day and may change anytime.
Climate. Climate, on the other hand, is the average condition of the atmosphere
in a given place or region. In many parts of the world there is always a weather
pattern for a particular region. This is observed every year, and the summary of
the weather patterns of a given region is referred to as climate. The climate of
an area is determined by its temperature and the amount of rainfall received
every year based on the interaction of the elements of climate with the physical
factors of the environment. These physical factors are referred to as climatic
controls. Based on these interactions, the climates of the world could then be
classified into tropical or climates of the low latitudes, climates of the middle
latitudes and climates of the high latitudes.
Elements and Controls of Weather and Climate
Elements. The elements of weather and climate are temperature, precipitation,
pressure and wind. However, more often than not, pressure and wind act more
as controls of climate, rather than as elements. What then is the difference
between an element and control of climate? A climatic element is a component
of climate which defines the conditions of a particular place. For example, a
place is described as hot or cold depending on its temperature. A climatic
control on the other hand, is a factor of the physical environment that influences
the behavior of the elements. For example, the temperature pattern of a place is
affected by its latitudinal location. The other climatic controls in addition to
latitude are altitude or elevation, orographic or mountain barriers, pressure
belts, ocean currents, heating differences between land and water bodies,
typhoons and windflows.
The Controls of Climate
1. Latitude and temperature. There are places on Earth that are very cold
and there are places that are very hot throughout the year. This is due to
latitudinal location. From the Equator moving toward the poles,
temperature would generally decrease. This is also due to the changing
angle of the Sun's rays as they reach the surface of the Earth. The
Equator would receive the vertical rays of the Sun. However, as one
 moves away from the Equator the angle of the Sun's rays would
gradually change from vertical to oblique or slanting to tangent along the
poles.
2. Altitude or elevation modifies the effect of latitude. For example, a
place located near the Equator will experience low temperatures if it is
high enough above sea level. Normally, atmospheric temperature
decreases as elevation increases.
3. Orographic or mountain barriers affect the amount of rainfall a place
will receive depending on its position, whether it lies on the leeward or
windward side of the mountain. The windward side of the mountain is
where the wind blows and undergoes cooling and condensation. It is on
this side where rain will fall. We call this orographic rainfall. The other
side of the mountain where no rain falls is the leeward side.
4. The different pressure belts of the world control the flow of winds and
the amount of precipitation received by a place. Wind, which is defined
as the horizontal motion of air, moves from a high pressure system
toward a low pressure system. Therefore, areas affected by high
 pressure cells are generally dry, while those influenced by low pressure
cells are wet.
5. The ocean currents of the world help distribute heat all over the Earth
bringing warm temperatures to cold areas and cold temperatures to
places that are warm or hot. An ocean current is a large volume of
ocean water that moves as a unit and in a specific direction. It is either
warm or cold depending on where it comes from. Currents coming from
the polar areas are cold and they move towards the Equator. The
currents coming from the Equator are warm and move towards the polar
regions. The ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere move in a
clockwise direction, while those in the Southern Hemisphere flow in a
counterclockwise direction. Some of the major currents of the world are
the Equatorial Currents, Japan Current or Kurushio, North Pacific Drift,
North Atlantic Drift, Gulf Stream and Alaska Current. These are the
warm currents. The cold currents, on the other hand, are the California
Current, Benguela Current, Canary Current and the Peruvian or
Humboldt Current.
 6. The land breeze and sea breeze phenomena illustrate how the heating differences between land and
water bodies affect the development of pressure systems and the movement of winds

Land breeze. Land breeze is the movement of wind from the land towards the sea. This occurs during
the night when a high pressure develops over the land and a low pressure over the sea because land heats
and cools faster than water. At night, the land releases the heat it has absorbed during the day, thus
lowering the temperature, and a high pressure forms over it. Relative to the land, the sea releases heat
slowly, therefore its temperature would be higher. Thus, a low pressure will develop over the water.
Because of this pressure difference wind will move from the land towards the sea. This is called the land
breeze.
Sea breeze. During the day, land heats faster than the sea. Thus, its temperature would be higher than the
sea and a low pressure develops over the land. The sea takes some time to heat up. This is why, relative to
the land, its temperature would be lower and a high pressure develops over the water. The wind will then
flow from the sea towards the land. This is called sea breeze.
7. Typhoon. The word typhoon comes from the Chinese word "tai-fung”, which means "big wind." It is a
compact low pressure system that moves as a unit and within which winds are spiraling with great
speed. It is formed over large bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Not all
of the Earth, however, is affected by typhoons. Only those areas that lie within their paths are affected.
These areas are considered to lie along the typhoon belt. Typical examples of countries that lie. along
the typhoon belt are the Philippines, Japan, China and Bangladesh. Typhoons could bring a lot of
damage to an area because of its strong winds and the rain it usually brings.
8. Another climatic control is windflow like the monsoon. The word monsoon comes from the Arabic word
“mausim”, which means season. Monsoon, therefore, is the seasonal flow of winds between the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres. There are two monsoon systems that affect areas such as
“Monsoon Asia” or in particular the Philippines and Southeast Asia. These are the Southwest monsoon
or Habagat and the Northeast monsoon or Amihan. In the Philippines, for example, the southwest
monsoon is felt during the months of June to September (summer in the Northern Hemisphere). The
winds flow from the Southern Hemisphere (where the season is winter) coming from the high pressure
over the Australian continent. As these winds reach the Equator, they reverse their direction of flow
moving towards India and Southeast Asia from a southwest direction. Therefore, the countries of
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines receive rain brought about by these winds.
The northeast monsoon, on the other hand, is experienced from November to February (winter season
of the Northern Hemisphere). The winds come from the high pressure over the Siberian region and flow
towards Pacific Ocean. As these winds reach the Pacific, they reverse their direction of flow and move
towards the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia from the northeast direction. These winds
continue to move towards the Southern Hemisphere where the season is summer and the pressure is
low. The northeast monsoon brings and rainy weather conditions.
The controls of climate act upon the climatic elements. They influence the behavior of the elements to
give rise to the different climates of the world. Let us now take a look at the different climates of the world and
how they are classified.
The climates of the world are classified in different ways. One classification is by latitudinal zones,
namely: Low Latitudes, Middle Latitudes and High Latitudes.
Low Latitude Climates. The low latitudes or the tropics are the areas bounded by the Tropic of Cancer
(231/2°) in the North and the Tropic of Capricorn (231/2˚) in the South. There, the sun rays are vertical. There
is little variation in the length of day and night. The climates of the low latitudes are referred to as tropical
climates. These are the tropical rainforest, tropical savanna and tropical desert climates. A place with a tropical
rainforest climate does not have a dry season. It receives enough rainfall to support a rainforest. While a
tropical savanna is characterized by wet and dry periods. Areas with this type of climate cannot support a
forest. Instead, grasslands are its dominant vegetation. Tropical deserts, on the other hand, are found in places
which are hot and dry like the Sahara in Northern Africa.
Middle Latitude Climates. The middle latitudes are those areas found between the Tropic of Cancer
and the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere, and those between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antartic
Circle in the Southern Hemisphere. These regions receive the slanting or oblique rays of the Sun and used to
be referred to as the temperate zones. How. ever, conditions are not temperate all throughout the year. In fact,
it is in these areas where the four seasons are experienced like winter, spring, summer and fall (autumn). The
climates of the middle latitudes are divided into mesothermal, microthermal, and middle latitude desert
climates. Mesothermal climates are those that have mild winters, while the microthermal climates are
characterized by severe winters. The middle latitude MESOTHER desert climates are found in regions which
are dry and relatively cooler in temperature than the low latitude deserts such as the Gobi Desert of China.
High Latitude Climates. Further toward the poles are the places located in the high latitudes. These are areas
north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle. Temperatures are cold in these regions because
they receive less heat from the Sun.
There are two types of climate in Polar regions. These are tundra and the perpetual frost or permanent
ice sheet climates.
Tundra climate is characterized by a short summer period.
Perpetual frost climate is found mostly in Antarctica and in places where the land is permanently covered
with ice throughout the year.

V. SUMMARY
The atmosphere is composed of different gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen
and others. The atmosphere is divided into several parts or layers. The lowest layer is the troposphere,
followed by the stratosphere, mesosphere and ionosphere in that order.
Weather is the condition the air or the atmosphere in general, at a particular moment or over a short
period of time, over a particular place. Climate, on the other hand, is the average condition of the atmosphere
in a given place or region.
The elements of weather and climate are temperature, precipitation, pressure and wind.
The Controls of Climate are Latitude and temperature, Altitude or elevation, Orographic or mountain
barriers, pressure belts, ocean currents, land breeze and sea breeze, typhoon, and windflow.
The climates of the world are classified in different ways. One classification is by latitudinal zones,
namely: Low Latitudes, Middle Latitudes and High Latitudes.

VI. SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

1. What is the relationship between elements and controls of climate? Give examples of how they interact
to give rise to the different climates of the world.

VII. ACTIVITY
1. Prepare posters showing the controls of climate.

Prepared by:
IANNE JOY Y.MANIQUIZ
Instructor