How does topography affect weather

Mountainous areas tend to have more extreme weather because it acts as a barrier to air movements and moisture.

One side of mountain can be dry while the other side is full of vegetation. Mountains can cause a physical barrier to rain clouds. In this lab, students will construct a "mountain" and rain clouds, to dramatize why one side of a mountain will have more water, hence, more vegetation than the other side.

Instruct students to create a mountain scene. You may want to use small branches for trees. Aluminum foil can also be used to create an appearance of a lake. Give each group a sponge.

Air that moves horizontally between high and low pressure zones makes wind. Air moving between large high and low pressure systems creates the global wind belts that profoundly affect regional climate. Changes in air pressure could have a big effect on climate. Changes in circulation can alter rainfall, temperature, winds and storminess.

These trends, and their impact on climate, could be stronger than we thought. Which two factors affect the wind and pressure system of an area and how? Answer: The latitude and the altitude of the place affect the temperature and rainfall of the area. What are ocean currents? The pressure and wind conditions over India are unique. During winter, there is a high-pressure area north of the Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this region to the low-pressure areas over the oceans to the south. In summer, a low-pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over northwestern India.

The air from the Southern-Indian Ocean the high pressure area moves towards the low pressure area central and north western India by crossing the Equator. This will bring enough rainfall and sometimes more than enough rainfall. Distance from the sea — Oceans heat up and cool down much more slowly than land. This means that coastal locations tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter than places inland at the same latitude and altitude.

Ocean currents act as conveyer belts of warm and cold water, sending heat toward the polar regions and helping tropical areas cool off, thus influencing both weather and climate. Land areas also absorb some sunlight, and the atmosphere helps to retain heat that would otherwise quickly radiate into space after sunset. Much of the U.

In contrast, Maine experiences colder temperatures because the Gulf Stream doesn't reach that far north. Instead, Maine is affected by the Labrador current, which carries cold air masses from the north. Areas near oceans and large lakes have smaller temperature ranges than landlocked, or continental, areas. Coastal areas are more likely to have more precipitation than continental areas because there's more water vapor in air masses above water.

When these air masses move over land, they heat and rise. As the air rises, it cools and the water vapor condenses, forming clouds and precipitation. Daily weather such as a rain or snow often has a nearby body of water as its root cause. Similarly, desert environments receive little rainfall.

Rates of precipitation are also influenced by elevation.