Basics Of Geography (Climate) Notes:

When you think of geography you probably think of land/landforms

- Also Water, Oceans, Lakes Rivers etc..

- Also people living on the earth and how their lives are affected by the land and water
around them

Study of geography has to include land and water because those 2 components covers the
surface of the earth

Geographers also study climate

- Climate is weather patterns of the region of the world over a long period of time

Many factors influence a region's climate such as the Sun

- Sun is the source of all light and warmth for every place on the earth

- Not all place receive same amount of sunlight because of the way the way the earth
moves around the sun

Earth is constantly in motion; it is continuously moving on its axis

- Imaginary line going through the center of the earth from north to south pole is called
Rotation

- At the same time the earth is rotating it is also travelling around the Sun

Revolution-​ The amount of time it takes the earth to make one revolution around the sun is
called a ​year

Earth's axis is not straight up and down it is tilted

- Because of this the earth revolves around the sun and different parts of the earth is tilted
towards the sun

For example, in July the Northern Hemisphere is facing toward the sun but in January it is tilted
away from the sun

Movement results in different seasons

- When Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun it receives more sunlight (More warmer)

- When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere it is summer in Southern Hemisphere

Are other factors than the sun that determine climate

- Some places weather stays warm year round other parts of the world it is cold all the
time - ​Latitude

Latitude- ​Distance a place lies from north or south of the equator measured by imaginary lines
called ​Line of latitude

5 lines:

- Equator -​ places near equator receive large amounts of sunlight are warmer than other
places of the earth

- 23.5 north of equator - ​Tropic of cancer​ - Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun
sunlight falls directly on this line

- When Southern Hemisphere is facing the sun, sunlight falls upon another line which is
23.5 south of equator which is ​Tropic of Capricorn

- Areas of the world located between these lines are called ​Low latitude or Tropic

South of the Tropic Of Capricorn at 66.5 degrees South Latitude is a line of Latitude ​(Antarctic
circle)

Another line called ​Arctic circle​ is located north of the Tropic Of Cancer at 66.5 degrees north
latitude

Areas between the tropics are called ​Middle latitudes

- Sun doesn't shine directly on these areas so are cooler

Middle latitude are also known as ​Temperate regions

North of Arctic Circle and south of Antarctic Circle are high latitudes or Polar Regions

^ Areas receive least amount of sunlight areas are very cold

Elevation-​ Height of an area above sea level

- Generally higher the elevation colder its climate (Example is snow on Mountain)

Precipitation-
- Some places can rain or snow everyday
- Other places can be dry most of year; Rain coming certain months
Wind:
- Can be either warm or cool depending on what direction they blow

Water currents:
- Same as wind currents (Warm or cool)

Gulf Streams-
- Refers to Ocean currents that carry warm water from the gulf of mexico to places as far
north as Norway

Due to the effect of these water currents even Norway is located near the arctic circle and its
climate is still warmer than most places in the Polar regions

6 Main Climatic Regions-

- Tropical
- Subtropical- (Hot dry summers, Cool rainy winters)
- Temperate
- Sub polar
- Polar
- Highlands

Each climate regions are defined from both Temperature and Precipitation

- People in hot areas where light clothing

- People who live in polar climates such as Inuits wear fur or other warm clothing to
protect themselves from the cold

Inuit live in houses well insulated to protect themselves from the Arctic Air

Sahara desert-​ Hot and Dry