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Climate and Ocean Worksheet

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Climate and Ocean Worksheet

You are helping plan a mountain hike in Aotearoa New Zealand. Use the briefing and climate data below to explain how the ocean, wind and altitude affect local climate. Climate describes long-term patterns; weather describes conditions at a particular time.

A mountain and an ocean

The Southern Alps lie across the path of moist westerly air from the Tasman Sea. As the air rises over the western slopes, it cools and often releases rain. Air descending on the eastern side is generally drier. The sea also warms and cools more slowly than land, which can moderate temperatures in nearby coastal places.

Location

Side of Southern Alps

Annual rainfall

Mean temperature

Hokitika

West

2,800 mm

12°C

Christchurch

East

650 mm

12°C

1.How much greater is Hokitika’s annual rainfall than Christchurch’s? Show the subtraction.

2.Use the briefing and data to explain why Hokitika is much wetter than Christchurch.

3.Why can a coastal location have less extreme temperatures than an inland location at a similar latitude?

The ocean heats and cools more slowly than land, moderating nearby temperatures.
The ocean stops all wind from reaching the coast.
Coastal places are always at a lower altitude.
Ocean water creates the same temperature everywhere.

4.If two places have the same mean temperature, they must have the same climate.

TrueFalse

5.Match each term with its description.

Rain shadow
Altitude
Maritime influence

Height above sea level
A drier area on the sheltered side of a mountain range
The ocean’s effect on nearby climate

6.Kahu’s hike climbs from a valley at 200 m to a ridge at 1,200 m. What temperature change would you expect from altitude alone, using an approximate decrease of 6°C per 1,000 m? State the change and why Kahu should prepare for it.

7.Ana says, “The east coast is dry only because it is far from the ocean.” Give a more complete explanation of why Christchurch is much drier than Hokitika.

8.A forecast says that rain is likely on the West Coast tomorrow. Is this a statement about weather or climate? Explain your choice.

9.Can the two rows of climate data prove that the Southern Alps cause the rainfall difference? Give one reason the data support this explanation and one limitation.

10.Write two climate-related preparations Ana and Kahu should make for a hike crossing the Southern Alps. Link each preparation to a climate influence from this worksheet.