Department of Education
Region III
DIVISION OF MABALACAT CITY
Name: __________________________________ Grade & Section: ________________
School: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Science 9 (Q3 – Week 5)
Climate: Factors that Affect the Climate of an Area
I. Introduction
Climate is the average weather condition at any place over a long period
of time. It is determined by averaging the weather of an area over many years.
Climate varies across Earth’s surface due to the different factors which
include the distance from the equator, elevation, prevailing winds,
topography, and ocean currents. Many of these factors affect the long-term
climate of an area.
This Learning Activity Sheets will help you understand Earth’s climate
and the different factors that influence it.
You will also accomplish a variety of activities designed to allow you to
explore and construct your understanding of the effects of altitude, latitude,
prevailing winds, mountains, and ocean currents. You will also discover how
climate affects humans’ lifestyles.
II. Learning Competencies
Explain how different factors affect the climate of an area
(S9ES-IIIe-30)
III. Objectives
At the end of this learning activity sheet, you are expected to:
1. differentiate weather from climate;
2. identify factors affecting climate;
3. illustrate how each factor affects climate.
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IV. Discussion
The climate of an area is different compared to another that is because
there are some factors affecting climate. But before we proceed to the different
factors affecting climate, let us first differentiate the meaning of weather from
climate. Climate and weather are closely related to one another but they are
different concepts. Do you know the difference?
The weather is an atmospheric situation that occurs “day-to-day” in a
specific place. Try to look outside your window. What is the weather right
now? Is it sunny, rainy, cloudy, or windy? Is it hot or cold? Weather is
changing; it can be every second, through hours or minutes. The climate is
the average weather condition that occurs in a place for a long period of time.
One good example of climate is the Sahara Desert because it has a hot climate
that extends thousands of years ago and up to now.
Therefore, weather is changing “day-to-day” or even hour to hour while
climate is changing through years or thousands of years.
Various factors affect the climate of an area. These are the latitude,
altitude, mountains, prevailing winds, and ocean currents. Because of these
factors, the elements that make up the climate are temperature, humidity,
pressure, precipitation or wind varies from one place to another. Let’s identify
these factors that affect the climate of a place.
1. Latitude (distance from the equator). It
is one of the most significant factors for
determining climate. The temperature
range increases with distance from the
equator. The temperature in the
latitude decreases as you move away
from the equator. If the regions are
closer to the equator the temperature is
warm and if it is far from the equator
the temperature is cold. This is because
the lower latitudes around the equator
get the most sunlight, and as latitude
increases, the temperature decreases.
2. Altitude (height above sea
level/elevation). It is the land height
or land elevation above sea level.
Locations at a higher elevation have
colder air and locations at a lower
elevation have warmer air. Meaning to
say the higher the altitude is, the
colder the air and therefore, the colder
the climate.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgyw4qt/revision/2
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As altitude increases, average yearly temperature decreases. In altitude,
the temperature usually decreases by1º C for every 100meters. Baguio City
and Tagaytay City are some of the places here in the Philippines with cold
climate. It is because of their altitudes. As you go up in altitude, you go down
in temperature and precipitation.
3. Prevailing winds. It is one of the most frequent wind direction a location
can experience. Winds that blow from one direction during a given period
of time are also called prevailing winds. The wind direction of prevailing
winds influences regional climate that includes the amount of precipitation
occurs in relation to mountain ranges and bodies of water. The winds can
either be hot, dry or cold depending upon the regions they passed through
and thus affect the climate of an area.
4. Mountains. It is one of the factors that can affect the climate of an area. It
usually has a higher altitude which is why the area here is colder than
surrounding lands. Mountains have two sides, the windward side, and
the leeward side. The word windward and leeward refers to the prevailing
winds on opposite sides of the ocean. Heavy precipitation often falls on the
windward side.
The windward side of the mountain usually receives warm and moist
air often from the ocean because it faces the wind. While the air on the
leeward side of the mountain is dry because the air is sinking and its side
faces away from the wind.
Mountain and mountain
range can actually cast a rain
shadow. It can extend for
(wet) (dry) hundreds of kilometer downwind
of the mountain range. If the
windward side of the mountain
range rises it’s winds, the air
cools and precipitation falls.
There is little precipitation
on the leeward side of the
Mountain Range mountain range because the air
in this side of the range is dry
and sinks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_shadow#
4. Ocean Currents. They are like rivers that move within the ocean. They are the
main contributing factors that create these ocean currents. Some of this includes
the winds, Earth’s rotation, the temperature of the water, and even the salinity
of the salt content of water. Ocean currents have two categories; warm
currents and cold currents. Warm ocean currents raise the temperature of the
nearby lands and Cold ocean currents lower the temperature of the nearby
lands. The warmth of the ocean is responsible for reheating the atmosphere,
evaporating water and even melting ice shelves on mountains.
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https://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-1/climate-system/great-ocean-currents/
This map of the major global ocean currents shows something important
that we should take note of.
Warm ocean currents originated at the equator and are transferred to
the south and north to the high latitude. Cold ocean currents originate at a
high latitude and transport cold water towards the equator. From this map,
you can also identify some global climate patterns created by ocean
currents.
V. Activities
Activity # 1
Directions:
A. Read the following statement. Write “W” if you think the statement relates
to Weather or “C” if you think the statement relates to Climate. Write your
answer on the line before the number.
_____1. The temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit today.
_____2. The Phoenix area receives rainfall in July and August during the
monsoon.
_____3. On August 12, we received 1.25 inches of rain.
_____4. Low air pressure on December 16 caused a storm system to move
into the Tucson, USA area.
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_____5. High air pressure during the spring season brings pleasant days
with warm temperatures.
_____6. It was cold and rainy yesterday in Baguio.
_____7. Average weather conditions of a region year after year.
_____8. The Philippines has a long hot summer.
_____9. It is usually cold in December.
_____10. A snow advisory is issued today in the USA.
B. Answer the question briefly.
1. Why is it important to know the weather and climate of an area?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Activity # 2
We need to know the climate of an area because it affects every aspect of our
lives. From our food sources to our transport infrastructure, from what
clothes we wear, to where we go on holidays. It has a massive effect on our
livelihoods, our health, and our future. Make a poster to present the factors
affecting climate. You can use any material in making your poster.
You will be graded by the following:
Content (5pts) Illustration (10pts) Organization (5pts)
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Activity # 3
Word Search. Find the words that are associated with climate that are listed
below in the word search box and encircle them.
Mountain Altitude Latitude Ocean currents Temperature
Windward Leeward Equator Prevailing Winds Precipitation
O X P E Q U A T O R D X Z
M C R W M I Y A G O R D I
L O E E O U X T X A C W L
L V C A U O V E L L L I O
A A I T N H Z M O T I N N
T L P H T C E P W I N D G
I E I E A L U E C T T W U
T N T R I A D R A U R A S
U T A A N Y O A R D E R A
D H T G K L R T D E G D B
E C I N Z A A U C Z N Z E
V I O N I C I R V X I T R
N A N A Z L E E W A R D S
VI. Assessment
Directions: Choose the best answer that completes each sentence. Write
your answer on the line before the number.
_____1. It refers to the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.
A. Climate C. Precipitation
B. Weather D. Temperature
_____2.Weather describes the conditions such as __________, wind,
temperature and the amount of moisture.
A. air pressure C. altitude
B. latitude D. equator
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_____3. The __________ the elevation is, the colder the climate.
A. up C. higher
B. down D. lower
_____4. It is a region located between the North and South hemisphere of the
equator above the tropics.
A. tropical zone C. polar zone
B. temperature zone D. equator
_____5. The air on this side of the mountain is warm and very dry.
A. altitude C. windward
B. latitude D. leeward
_____6. Which side of the mountain tends to receive more precipitation?
A. altitude C. windward
B. latitude D. leeward
_____7. What factor affecting climate tends to warm the temperature of
eastern coastal areas and cool temperatures on the west coast
continents?
A. altitude C. ocean currents
B. latitude D. prevailing winds
_____8. It refers to the average weather conditions over a long period.
A. Climate C. Precipitation
B. Weather D. Temperature
_____9. It is also known as the distance from the equator.
A. altitude C. ocean currents
B. latitude D. prevailing winds
____10. What place in the Philippines experience a cold climate because of
its high altitude?
A. Manila C. Bulacan
B. Pampanga D. Baguio
____11. The windward side of the mountain gets more rainfall and the
leeward side is drier.
A. True
B. False
_____12. Global winds influence climate because they distribute heat and
moisture around the Earth.
A. True
B. False
_____13. Seasons are reversed between the North and South hemisphere.
A. True
B. False
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_____14. Ocean currents move warm water from the equator towards the
poles.
A. True
B. False
_____15. As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases.
A. True
B. False
VII. Reflection
Directions: Observe the following pictures then answer the given question.
If you were given the chance to choose another place or country to live in,
where would you settle? Describe the location of the place. Why would you
choose the place?
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VIII. Reference
Department of Education. (2015). Science Teacher’s Guide.
Lexicon Press INC. Pasig City Philippines
Department of Education. (2015). Science Learner’s Material.
Lexicon Press INC. Pasig City Philippines
Alton Biggs, Ralph M. Feather Jr., PhD, Susan Leach Snyder, Dinah Zike.
Texas Science Book. A McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2002.
Websites
Image of Latitude. Access January 1, 2021
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgyw4qt/revision/2
Image of Altitude. Access January 1, 2021
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgyw4qt/revision/2
Image of Mountain. Access January 1, 2021
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_shadow#/media/File:Rain_shadow_effect.jpg
Image of Ocean Currents. Access January 1, 2021
https://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-1/climate-system/great-ocean-currents/
Image of Kids in Beach. Access January 9, 2021
https://blog.chocchildrens.org/ideas-for-kid-friendly-beach-food-and-kid-friendly-
beach-snacks/
Image of People during Cold Climate. Access January 9, 2021
https://hugoproductionspanama.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/the-inuit-and-their-
adaption-to-the-canadian-artic/
Symbols: Retrieved from Microsoft MS Word 2010
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O P
C R M
E O T A W
L C A U E L I
A I N M T N
T P T C P W I N D S
I I A U E T W
T T I R U A
U A N A R D R
D T T E D Answer may vary
E I U N
REFLECTIONS
O R T
N L E E W A R D S
ACTIVITY # 3
1. B
2. A
3. C 1. W
4. B 2. C
5. D 3. W
6. C 4. W
7. D 5. C
8. A 6. W
9. B 7. C
10. D 8. C
11. A 9. C
12. A 10. W
13. A 11-15. Answer may
14. A vary
15. A
16. Answer may vary.
ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY #2 ACTIVITY #1
IX. Answer Key
X. Development Team
Development Team of the Learning Activity Sheets
Writer: Mari-Mar J. Bulusan
Editor: Cristina L. Dizon, PhD
Reviewer: Ala M. Elagio, Alice Tayag, Maria Teresa C. Maluntag
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team: Ericson S. Sabacan, EdD, CESO VI
Leandro C. Canlas, PhD, CESE
Elizabeth O. Latorilla, PhD
Sonny N. De Guzman, EdD
Cristina L. Dizon, PhD
Elizabeth C. Miguel, EdD
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education – Division of Mabalacat
P. Burgos St., Poblacion, Mabalacat City, Pampanga
Telefax: (045) 331-8143
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