Download Chapter 10 Global Climate Systems Climate Factors Controlling

Chapter 10
Global Climate
Systems
Robert W. Christopherson
Charlie Thomsen
Climate
Climate is weather over time, including
both mean and variation
Climatology is the study of climate
Climatic regions are areas with similar
weather statistics
Factors Controlling Climate
The ultimate controller on climate is energy and
water. Any factors influencing these two impact the
climate. They include:
Global NET Radiation
Figure 4.17
Worldwide Average Precipitation
Figure 10.2
Classification Categories
Classification criteria: temperature and
precipitation and moisture efficiency for
desert areas.
Tropical
Mesothermal
Microthermal
Polar
Highland
Desert
Generalized Climate Regions
Figure 10.4
World Climate Classification
Figure 10.5
Koppe-Gaiger Climate Classification
Tropical Climates
This region straddles between 20oN to 20oS,
roughly between the tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn (thus tropical). Covers 36% of
Earth Surface.
* consistent daylength and insolation
* ITCZ brings rain
Tropical Rain Forest Climates
Tropical Monsoon Climates
Tropical Savanna Climates
Tropical Climates
Tropical Rain Forest
Figure 10.7
Tropical Monsoon
Figure 10.8
Tropical Savanna
Figure 10.9
Mesothermal Climates
Areas characterize with warm and temperate climates with
clear seasonality. Shifting air masses of
maritime/continental origin are guided by upper-air
westerly winds, Rossby waves and jet streams.
Humid Subtropical
Hot-Summer Climates: moist all year
Dry-Winter Climates: pronounced winter dry
Marine West Coast Climates: mild winter, cool summer
Mediterranean Dry-Summer Climates: Hot dry summer,
wet mild winter. cT air mass over Sahara shift northward
blocking moist air mass from moving in.
Mesothermal Climates
Humid Subtropical Hot-Summer
Figure 10.10
Humid Subtropical Hot-Summer
Figure 10.11
Humid Subtropical Winter-Dry
Figure 10.12
Marine West
Coast
Controlled by marine Polar air mass (cool, moist, unstable).
Figure 10.14
Marine West
Coast
Figure 10.15
Mediterranean
Climates
Dry hot summer, cool
moist winter.
Figure 10.16
Microthermal Climates
These region have longer winters than
mesothermal climates with cool temperate
to cold temperature.
Humid Continental Hot-Summer Climates
Humid Continental Mild-Summer Climates
Subarctic Cool-Summer Climates
Subarctic Very Cold-Winter Climates
Microthermal Climates
Humid
Continental
Hot-Summer
Climates
Figure 10.17
Humid Continental
Mild-Summer Climates
Figure 10.19
Subarctic Cool
Summer Climates
Figure 10.20
Extreme Subarctic Cold Winter
Figure 10.21
Polar and Highland Climates
Polar: Low sun angle limit the energy input.
Extreme low humidity produces low
precipitation.
Highland: high elevation leads to low net
radiation.
Tundra Climate
Ice Cap and Ice Sheet Climates
Polar Marine Climate
Polar and Highland Climates
Dry, Arid, and Semiarid Climates
Permanent moisture deficits, i.e. Precip < PET due to:
(1) Subtropical High Pressure
(2) Rain shadow
(3) long distance from moisture source (e.g. interior Asia)
desert: Precip < PET/2; Steppe: PET/2< Precip< PET
Hot Low-Latitude Desert Climates
Cold Midlatitude Desert Climates
Hot Low-Latitude Steppe Climates
Cold Midlatitude Steppe Climates
Arid and Semiarid Climates
Desert Landscapes
Desert vegetation is typically xerophytic: drought-resistant, waxy, hard-leafed, adapted to
aridity and low transpiration loss.
Figure 10.24
Low-Latitude
Hot
Desert
Figure 10.25
Mid-Latitude Cold Desert
Figure 10.26
Low-Latitude
Hot Steppe
Figure 10.27
Midlatitude Cold Steppe
Only exists in Northern Hemisphere
Figure 10.28
End of Chapter 10
Geosystems 7e
An Introduction to Physical Geography
Robert W. Christopherson
Charlie Thomsen