The rainy, tropical climate of West Africa, for example, is influenced by the region’s location near the Equator (latitude) and its position on the western side of the continent. All climates are the product of many factors, including latitude, elevation, topography, distance from the ocean, and location on a continent. A region’s elevation, proximity to the ocean or freshwater, and land-use patterns can all impact climate. Landscape can also help define regional climate. Latitude plays a huge factor in determining climate. Climate features also include windiness, humidity, cloud cover, atmospheric pressure, and fogginess. Wet and dry seasons are reversed in Beijing-it has rainy summers and dry winters. San Francisco’s summers are dry and its winters are wet. San Francisco’s winters are not much cooler than its summers, while Beijing is hot in summer and cold in winter. However, the daily and seasonal changes make San Francisco and Beijing very different. For example, San Francisco, California, and Beijing, China, have similar yearly temperatures and precipitation. Changes in day-to-day, day-to-night, and seasonal variations also help determine specific climates. Climate Features The most familiar features of a region’s climate are probably average temperature and precipitation. These altered landscapes can influence weather patterns such as wind, erosion, and even temperature. Living organisms alter the landscape, through both natural growth and created structures such as burrows, dams, and mounds. Forests and oceans serve as “ carbon sinks” that have a cooling impact on climate. Through photosynthesis, plants help regulate the flow of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The biosphere, the sum total of living things on Earth, profoundly influences climate. The abundance of plants and the type of land cover (such as soil, sand, or asphalt) impacts evaporation and ambient temperature. Topography and vegetation influence climate by helping determine how the Sun’s energy is used on Earth. This “ocean conveyor belt” has an enormous influence on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The cryosphere also helps regulate thermohaline circulation. Ice sheets and glaciers reflect sunlight, and the thermal conductivity of ice and permafrost profoundly influences temperature. The cryosphere is another generally consistent part of the climate system. Changes to the hydrosphere, which include variations in temperature and salinity, occur at much slower rates than changes to the atmosphere. The composition and movement of gases surrounding the Earth can change radically, influenced by natural and human-made factors. The atmosphere is the most variable part of the climate system. A climate system has five major components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the land surface, and the biosphere. Climate is determined by a region’s climate system. Between the icy poles and the steamy tropics are many other climates that contribute to Earth’s biodiversity and geologic heritage. Others are cold and snow-covered most of the year. Some parts of the world are hot and rainy nearly every day. Climate System Different parts of the world have different climates. A region’s weather patterns, usually tracked for at least 30 years, are considered its climate. Weather can change from hour-to-hour, day-to-day, month-to-month or even year-to-year. Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.
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