WHILE THE WEATHER changes every day and a hot and humid day can be followed by a rainy one, the climate of a region remains the same for a long time.The climate is driven by the sun,which heats up the air and give rise to ,winds such as the trade winds.The oceans and the ocean currents also the world climate.The climate also undergoes long term changes -the last ice age is a good example of this.
OCEANS AFFECT THE CLIMATE
The temperature of oceans changes very slowly , the climate near the sea is quite equable and the air temperature fluctuates only negligibly.This equabl climate is known as 'sea climate' or 'maritime' climate.Maritime means 'related to sea.' The winters are mild , and the summer are relatively cool and rainy.On the other hand , landmasses away from the sea get heated up by the sun very quickly .Hence ,day and night temperatures fluctuates sharply ,making the winter cold and summer hot.
TRADE WINDS- The trade wind is a wind that blows throughout the year in the tropics, a broad belt around the equator . In the northern hemisphere ,it blows from the northeast to the equator ,and in the Southern hemisphere , it blows from the southeast to the equator . The sun being directly overhead , is very strong and heats up the air in the equatorial region.The warm air automatically rises up, reducing the atmospheric pressure and allowing the surrounding air to flow in towards the equator .This flow of air is called the 'trade wind'.
OCEAN CURRENTS-HOT and Cold currents affects the climate of the land masses along their course .Ocean currents also affect temperatures all across the world .The current that bring warm water up the north Atlantic ocean to the north west European shores stop ice from forming near the coasts and blocking ships from entering and exiting ports .In Northern Canada ,cold ocean currents freeze the soil all through the year.The cold Benguela current that runs off the coat of Namibia has created one of the driest deserts of the world - the Namibia desert.This current does not allow the sea water to evaporate , and thus prevent the formation of clouds in the local sky.
ICE AGE-There have been many ice ages, in the entire history of the Earth.During these cold phases ,the average temperature of the Earth dropped 5 degree centigrade ,below the normal level and the polar region completely covered with ice ..The last big cold period , known as the 'Ice age.'
ended around 50,000 years ago.with the thawing of the large glaciers that were several kilometers thick. It is not yet clear what causes an Ice age .Researchers believe that the sudden change in the Earth's climate may be the result of some sort of a disturbance in the orbit of the Earth or a reduction in the heat of the sun reaching the Earth..Another theory suggest that , prior to the ice age , the continents might have changed positions , and blocked or reduced the flow of warm currents from the Equator to the poles, and thus allowed ice sheets in the region.
CLIMATE
OCEANS AFFECT THE CLIMATE
The temperature of oceans changes very slowly , the climate near the sea is quite equable and the air temperature fluctuates only negligibly.This equabl climate is known as 'sea climate' or 'maritime' climate.Maritime means 'related to sea.' The winters are mild , and the summer are relatively cool and rainy.On the other hand , landmasses away from the sea get heated up by the sun very quickly .Hence ,day and night temperatures fluctuates sharply ,making the winter cold and summer hot.
TRADE WINDS- The trade wind is a wind that blows throughout the year in the tropics, a broad belt around the equator . In the northern hemisphere ,it blows from the northeast to the equator ,and in the Southern hemisphere , it blows from the southeast to the equator . The sun being directly overhead , is very strong and heats up the air in the equatorial region.The warm air automatically rises up, reducing the atmospheric pressure and allowing the surrounding air to flow in towards the equator .This flow of air is called the 'trade wind'.
OCEAN CURRENTS-HOT and Cold currents affects the climate of the land masses along their course .Ocean currents also affect temperatures all across the world .The current that bring warm water up the north Atlantic ocean to the north west European shores stop ice from forming near the coasts and blocking ships from entering and exiting ports .In Northern Canada ,cold ocean currents freeze the soil all through the year.The cold Benguela current that runs off the coat of Namibia has created one of the driest deserts of the world - the Namibia desert.This current does not allow the sea water to evaporate , and thus prevent the formation of clouds in the local sky.
ICE AGE-There have been many ice ages, in the entire history of the Earth.During these cold phases ,the average temperature of the Earth dropped 5 degree centigrade ,below the normal level and the polar region completely covered with ice ..The last big cold period , known as the 'Ice age.'
ended around 50,000 years ago.with the thawing of the large glaciers that were several kilometers thick. It is not yet clear what causes an Ice age .Researchers believe that the sudden change in the Earth's climate may be the result of some sort of a disturbance in the orbit of the Earth or a reduction in the heat of the sun reaching the Earth..Another theory suggest that , prior to the ice age , the continents might have changed positions , and blocked or reduced the flow of warm currents from the Equator to the poles, and thus allowed ice sheets in the region.
CLIMATE
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