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Mediterranean climates can be found along the western coast of the
southwest United States and around the Mediterranean Sea. In the
summer, subtropical highs cause these climates to be dry. In the winter,
the subtropical highs move south, so mid-latitude storms bring rain.
Although there may be occasional frost in winter, snow is rare.
Severe Winters
In moist mid-latitude regions with severe winters, snow often covers the
ground in the winter, yet in the summer temperatures are still warm
enough to support trees. Subclimates include the humid continental
climate and the subarctic climate.
Humid continental climates are found in the interiors of continents
and on eastern coasts, including in the northern United States east of the
Great Plains. Temperatures can become very cold because there are no
nearby bodies of water to moderate wintertime cooling of the land.
Although winters may be very cold, summers can be hot and humid.
Subarctic climates are found closer to the poles and so have short
summers. Temperatures in winter can be extremely cold. For example, in
Verkhoyansk, Siberia, temperatures of –50°C are typical in January. Yet
temperatures in the summer still exceed 10°C, and trees can grow.
Although trees in this climate are short and scrawny because of the harsh
conditions, they form the largest continuous forests in the world.
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HIGHLAND CLIMATE A mountainous
region, such as Patagonia in Chile, can
contain several different climates in a
small area.
Highlands
Mountainous regions often have several different climates within a small
area. For example, in the Sierra Nevada in California, the bases of the
mountains are in desert, while the tops of some of the mountains are
covered with snow all year. Climate varies not only with elevation but with
the direction of the slope. For example, temperatures may be consistently
colder on a north-facing slope than on a nearby south-facing slope.
Because it is impractical to show all of the separate climates of
mountainous regions on a global map, mountainous regions are labeled as
highland climates. Highland climates indicate mountainous regions in
which multiple climates exist within a small area.
HYPOTHESIZE
The map on pages 470–471
shows that there is a long band
of highland climate in South
America. Which of the five major
climates could make up this
highland climate zone south of
30 degrees south latitude?
Explain your reasoning.
21.2 Section Review
1
Why are polar climates very cold?
2
What is a desert like?
3 Describe humid tropical climates.
4
Why do Mediterranean climates have dry summers and wet winters?
5 CRITICAL THINKING Explain why dry climates often exist on the
leeward sides of mountain ranges and in the horse latitudes.
6
GEOGRAPHY Look at the map on pages 470–471. Compare the
climate in central Greenland with the climate along the southern
coast of Greenland.
Chapter 21 Climate and Climate Change
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