You have noticed that most of the suns

rays strike vertically in places near the

equator.
This m
akes the temperature higher in these
areas, resulting in warm climate. Places
that are not
always vertically hit by the suns rays
exper
ience cold climate. As the latitude
increases, the
smaller the angle of the suns
rays strike the surface. Therefore, when
the area is farther from the
equator, the air temperature is lower.
When the place is closer to the equator,
the air temperature is higher

. . Why do mountain climbers wear jackets

and thick clothes when they go up the

mountain? The air temperature decreases as
the altitude increases. For every 1000 m,
elevations, there is less air. The air
molecules are farther apart, thus making
the air less dense. Lighter air cannot absorb
much heat, making air temperature lower.
Ultimately, the
decrease of air temperature is due to the
decrease of air pressure.

Mountain is an example of topographical

features of the land. As you noticed, the
picture
shows the two sides of the mountain.
One side is facing the wind and has low
temperature.

Clouds are forming here due to the

condensation of water vapor. This
formation of clouds
develops to become rain. On the other
side of the mountain, there is no cloud
formation. The
temperature is high and precipitation
does not happen. This results in the
formation of a dry and
warm region. Topography is another
factor that affects the climate of a certain
place. One of the
topographic features of an area is
mountain. Mountainous areas greatly
affect the amount of
precipitation in a certain region. The area
in which the wind blows is called the
windward side.
Here
, the wind is blocked by the mountain,
forcing it to move upward. As it moves
up, the water
vapor
condenses and forms clouds. This will
result in precipitation on the windward
side. The air
moves down towards the opposite region
called leeward side. The cold air mass
starts to absorb
heat
and becomes warm and dry. As a result,
the area near the leeward side becomes
dry and has
les
s precipitation. The dry region on the
leeward side is called rain shadow.
Vegetation in this
region includes desert plants and
grassland.
You have now identified some factors
that affect climate. The next activity will
help you

deepen your understanding about

climate.

Different loops or gyres of surface currents around

the world. In
northern hemisphere, the current flows in clockwise
direction. On the other hand, in southern
hemisphere the current flows in counterclockwise
direction. These clockwise and
counte
rclockwise of ocean currents are caused by Coriolis
Effect. Ocean currents that flow away
from the equator carries warm water. The air above
the warm water has higher temperature.
When ocean currents that bring cold water move
towards a coastal region, the temperature of that
area decreases as warmer air from the land flows to
the sea resulting to a cold climate. When
warm
ocean currents that take along warm water go to a
land mass, the temperature of that place
increases as warmer air above the water flows
inland, resulting to a warm climate.
HOW DO OCEAN CURRENTS AFFECT
CLIMATE?
Ocean currents have also an important
role in changing
the climate of a certain area. They affect
the temperature of the nearby land
mass. Warm currents
move from the equator towards poles
carry warm water. On the other hand,
cold currents travel
fro

m the poles towards the equator carry

cold water.
When ocean current carries cold water,
the air above it becomes colder. When
this ocean
current moves toward the coastal region,
the temperature of that area becomes
lower. For
example, (see Figure 6.1) the
southwestern parts of Singapore and
Indonesia have lower
tem
perature because of the cold air brought
by West Australian Current. On the other
hand, the
ocean current that carries warm water
makes the air warmer. When this current
goes toward a
land mass, the temperature of that place
becomes higher. For example, (see Figure
6.1) the warm
Kuroshi
o Current that comes from the
northeastern part of the Philippines
brings warm water.
This raises the temperature of places in
the southeastern part of Japan.
Therefore, ocean currents
that bring along cold water to inland
make the climate cold. On the other
hand, ocean currents
that
take along warm water to coastal areas
make the climate warm.

Global warming can bring about a rising of sea

level due to the melting of ice caps and glaciers.
We may experience severe weather disturbances
such as much stronger typhoons and heavier
rai
nfalls. Some parts of the world may experience El
Nio or La Nia. And most of all, it can
cause extinction of some fauna and flora.
*The thermometer reading inside the tank went up
faster than the thermometer reading
outside the tank. This was due to the temperature
that is rising in the container. The rising of the
temperature resulted from keeping the heat from
flowing. Thermal radiation coming from the sun
was absorbed by the air inside the tank. The wall of
the tank keeps the warm air from flowing
out, causing its temperature to rise as it continues to
absorb heat from sunlight. Outside the tank,
air warmed by sunlight can interact with the
surrounding cooler air. This allows heat to flow
from warm air to cooler air through convection, and
keep the temperature from rising as fast as
that of the air inside the tank.
Solar radiation warms the Earth as its energy is
absorbed by the atmosphere. In
the atmosphere, there are greenhouse gases present.
These include water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide. Greenhouse gases
prevent heat to escape from earth making earths
temperature higher.

Climate Change
Is climate change real? Is climate change manmade or is it just a natural occurrence?
These are just few questions that can be asked once
we talk about climate change. Climate
change is one of the most current worldwide issues.
Some experts say that it is true that Earth.
does go through a period of cooling and a period of
warming. The increase of temperature that
we are experiencing right now is caused by factors
other than human activity. Another point of
view is that the increase of Earths temperature is
brought about by human intervention.
Whether the cause is man-made or not, climate
change is a change in the environment.

Greenhouse Gases such as carbon dioxide,

methane(CH4),chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
and nitrous oxide(N2O) trap heat preventing
it to escape from the

earth. All gases absorb heat, some just

absorb

that is why; it is termed as El Nio which

meansChrist child.

more than others. So assuming solar

radiation is
constant, the average atmospheric
temperature
depends on the mix of gases. More
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means
that the equilibrium temperature will be
higher as these
absorb more heat. This will result to the
increase of global temperature. Less
greenhouse gases
will mean lower temperature. Mankind more
or less evolved under conditions of a specific
mix
of gases (of course with certain degree of
variation) in the atmosphere, and we thrived
under
these conditions. If the mix of gases in the
atmosphere were altered considerably,
earths temperature would change
significantly, and we will be faced with new
conditions that we are
not used to, which we will have to somehow
adapt to, or face extinction. Areas that are
found in
temperate regions may have shorter winter.
Countries that are found in tropical regions
may have
longer and drier summer. Glaciers that cover
land will melt which results in the increase of
sea
level.

El Nio and La Nia

El Nio is an abnormal and lengthy warming

in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean.
This natural phenomenon occurs at irregular
intervals of two to seven years and last for
nine months or two years at most. Usually, it
starts at the end of the year or during
Christmas season

Normally, as trade wind

moves from east to west, it collects warm air.
But when trade wind is weakened, it causes
the
piling up of warm surface water and making
the
part of the Pacific Ocean warmer leading to
El
Nio phenomenon. This happens when the
upwel
ling of colder water is blocked by the large
quantities of warm surface water. (The cause
of
the weakening of the trade winds is still
unknown and it is still being investigated)
Since the Pacific Ocean is to the east of the
Philippines, El Nio phenomenon will affect
the country. When there is an increase of the
temperature in
the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean,
it is
expected that some areas in the Philippines
will experience this climatic phenomenon.
Some areas in the country will experience
near to above rainfall and some areas may
experience drier
than normal rainfall.
El Nio will most likely bring severe drought.
It is believed that it causes stronger
thunderstorm disturbance and massive
storms. It also causes the decrease the
population of some
species.

La Nia is the
opposite climatic disturbance to El Nio.
This natural phenomenon may, but does
not
always follow El Nio events. It may
last for nine to twelve months but in some
cases, it lasts for two years. This event is
triggered by the cooling of the eastern part
of the Pacific Ocean. Thats why, it is
sometimes called cold Pacific.
Trad
e winds that move from east to west are
strengthened. Upwelling of colder water
intensifies. Moving air brings along too much
water vapor. When it reaches the land mass
such
as Philippines, precipitation is experienced.
There would be an increase of rainfall in
some areas
in the Philippines. For instance, areas that
experienced severe drought which caused by
El Nio
may encounter above normal rainfall. But in
some cases, areas that experience dry
season will be
drier than normal conditions. La Nias
effects are the opposite of El Nio.

ASSIGNMENT

Altitude- the height above sea level.

Climate- the overall condition of an area over a long period of time.
climate change- a long term shifting of global weather pattern.
El Nio brought about by thecurrent
of the ocean bringing warm air

( 12/07/15 )

to a landmass in the Pacific region.

Fauna composed of living animals.
Longitude- an imaginary line that extends from north pole to south pole.
Mitigation a manner of modifying something to become useful.
Topography- the surface features of an area.
Windward- the side of the mountain that receives most of the precipitation.
Flora- composed of different plant vegetation.
Greenhouse effect- the increase of global temperature due to some atmospheric gases.
Gyre- the circular patterns formed by surface currents.
Latitude- an imaginary line that is parallel to the equator.
Leeward- the side of the mountain that receives less amount of precipitation.
Precipitation- forms when water vapor condenses and falls to the ground as rain, snow, hail or
sleet.
Temperature- refers to the hotness or coldness of an object.
Factors being equal,gas (mainly water vapor)dissolved in magma tends to increase its ability to flow.
Therefore, in near-surface environments, the loss of gases
makes magma more viscous, forming a dome or a columnar as shown in Figure 65.

Types of volcanic eruptions

Volcanoes erupt differently.They are generally classified as wet or dry
depending on the magmas water content. Volcanoes are described according to the
style of eruption as follows:
a. Phreatic or hydrothermal is a stream-driven
eruption

as the hot rocks come in contact with water. It is

shortlived,

characterized by ash columns but may be an onset

for
of alarger eruption.Shown on the right is our Taal
Volcano in Batangas.
b. Phreatomagmatic is a violent eruption due to
the
contact between water and magma. As a result, a
large
column of very fine ash and high-speed and
sideway
emission of pyroclastics called base surges are
observed.

c. Strombolian -- a periodic weak to violent

eruption characterized by fountain lava,
just like the Irazu Volcano in Costa Rica.

d. Vulcanian characterized by tall

eruption columns that reach up to 20 km
high with pyroclastic flow and ashfall
tephra like that of Paricutin Volcano in
Mexico.

e. Plinian excessively explosive

type of eruption of gas and
pyroclastics, just like our Pinatubo
Volcano in Zambales.