Week 12

 Lab

  • Latitude: distance from Equator is a key factor in determining whether a climate is hot or cold
    • Places closer to N S poles = colder
    • Near the equator = warmer 
  • Ocean currents
    • Temp of an ocean current affects the temp of air that passes over it 
  • Wind & air masses
    • Air mass = large volume of air that takes on climatic conditions of the area where it's formed
  • Elevation
    • Higher in altitude, colder in temp
    • As air rises, expands. Because of lower air pressure 
    • As air expands, it cools
  • Relief 
    • Precipitation created when an air mass rises to cross a mountain barrier
    • An adiabatic process = no heat is gained or lost by the system
  • Near water: 
    • in the summer the water acts like an AC to keep air temps cool
    • in the winter water acts like a heater to keep temps from getting too cold
    • continental climate (away from water) 
    • maritime climate (close to water) 
Lecture 
- Climate vs. weather: climate is what you expect, weather is what you get 
- Climate is already changing
- Iowa agricultural producers are adapting to climate change: 
    - Longer growing season 
    - wetter spring 
    - more summer precipitation
    - wetter springs and summers
    - higher humidity 
    - drier autumns 


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