The swirling clouds of Hurricane Pauline can be seen over Mexico and Central America in this satellite image.
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How does latitude affect climate around the world?
Several factors affect the climate where you live, including latitude, distance from large bodies of water, altitude, and prevailing winds. Do an Internet search to find mean monthly temperature data for your city or town. Then look up the mean monthly temperatures for a city on another continent that is at approximately the same latitude as your city or town. Plot both sets of data on the same graph, and post the graph on your class blog. Indicate the locations of the two sites on a map. Then write a short paragraph explaining the similarities or differences in the two sets of temperature data.
How do science concepts apply to your world? Here are some questions you'll be able to answer after you read this chapter.
What would Earth be like without an atmosphere? (Section 24.1)
What causes the seasons? (Section 24.2)
Why is there often a cool breeze at the beach? (Section 24.3)
How can the air cause a bad hair day? (Section 24.4)
What causes thunder and lightning? (Section 24.5)
What happens when a hurricane reaches land? (page 772)
How reliable are weather forecasts? (Section 24.6)
How do human activities affect climate? (Section 24.7)