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Introduction to Geography, 8/e
Arthur Getis, San Diego State University
Judith Getis
Jerome D. Fellmann, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

Objectives:

After reading and studying this chapter you should be able to:

1.

Distinguish between weather and climate.

2.

Understand the role of the sun in supplying energy to the earth and how solar insolation varies by latitude and time of the year; understand the components of the earth's solar energy budget.

3.

Understand the lapse rate and its deviations. Calculate the temperature at any elevation by using it.

4.

Understand the relationship between temperature, atmospheric pressure and winds.

5.

Understand the Coriolis Force and the Frictional Effect, and how both influence wind belts on the earth's surface.

6.

Understand the importance of oceans, ocean temperature and ocean currents in relation to climate formation and change.

7.

Identify the various forms of precipitation and note under what conditions they are likely to occur.

8.

Understand the soil formation process.

9.

Understand the interrelationship between climate soil and natural vegetation.

10.

Identify the major climate regions using the Koppen climate classification system of temperature and precipitation and by their associated characteristics of natural vegetation and soils.

11.

Interpret climagraphs. Understand how to construct a climagraph from statistical information.

12.

Label a map of the world's climate distribution.