Download Climate Regions - Fort Thomas Independent Schools

Climate Regions
Climate: is the average of all weather conditions if
An area over a long period of time.
 The
main factors that influence
temperature are latitude, altitude, distance
from a large body of water, and ocean
currents.
 Latitude: is the distance from the equator ,
measured in degrees
 Earth’s surface can be divided into 3
temperature zones.



Tropical Zone

Located near the equator between 23.5 north latitude and 23.5
south latitude.

It receives direct or nearly direct sunlight all year around.

Climate is warm.
Polar Zone

It extends from 66.5 to 90 north or south latitude.

The sun’s rays strike at a lower angle neat the north and south
poles.

Climate is cold.
Temperate Zone

It is located between the tropical and polar zones.

Located 23.5 to 66.5 north or south latitude.

In the summer, the sun’s rays strike the zone more directly.

In the winter , the rays strike at a lower angle.

Climate is warm to hot in the summer and cool to cold in the
winter.
 Altitude:
 Why
does a mountain have polar caps if
they are located in the tropical zone?
 Temperature of the troposphere
decreases about 6.5 degrees Celsius for
every 1km increase in altitude. Therefore
highland areas everywhere have cool
climates no matter what their latitude.
Distance from a Large Body of Water
 Water
heats up more slowly than land; it
also cools down more slowly. Therefore,
winds from the ocean keep coastal regions
from reaching extremes of hot and cold.
Ocean Currents
 Warm
ocean currents carry warm water
from the tropics toward the poles. Cold
currents bring cold water from the polar
zones toward the equator. The surface of
the water warms or cools the air above it.
The warmed or cooled air then moves
over the nearby land. So a warm current
brings warm air to the land it touches. A
cold current brings cool air.
Humid Tropical
 Found
near the equator
 Temperature is always 64 degrees F or
higher.
Tropical Wet

Always hot and humid
 Heavy rain, at least
6cm a month all year
around.
 Lush vegetation
 Ex. Amazon rain
forest in South
America.
Tropical Wet-Dry





Always hot
Alternating wet and
dry seasons
Heavy rainfall
Tropical grassland
Ex. Miami, Florida
Dry
 Evaporation
is greater than precipitation.
 May be cold or hot
 Inland from the ocean
Desert





Desert (hot and sandy
or cold and rocky)
Gets less than 25cm
of rain all year
Includes hottest
places on Earth.
In most deserts high
daytime temperatures
lead to rapid
evaporation.
Ex. Phoenix, Arizona
Semiarid

Edge of the desert
prairies or
grasslands
 Great plains
 Receive about 2550cm of precipitation
all year.
Ex. Denver, Colorado
Moist Mid-latitude with Mild
Winters
 Average
Temperature 50 degrees F or
above in the warm months
 Between 26-64 degrees F in the coldest
months
Mediterranean






Warm, dry summers
Rainy winters
Dense shrubs and
small trees
Olives and grapes
Some coastal areas
have cool summers
and frequent fog.
Ex. San Fransico,
California
Humid Subtropical






Hot, muggy summers
Cool Mild winters
Southeast United
States
Mix forests
Precipitation fairly
even throughout the
year.
Ex. Charlotte, North
carolina
Marine West Coast






Mild Winters (rainy)
Cool summers
Moderate
precipitation due to
coastal region.
Cone bearing trees
Low clouds and fog.
Ex. Seattle,
Washington
Mid-latitude with Severe winters
 Average
Temperature 50 degree F or
above in warm months
 26 degrees F or below in the coldest
months
Humid Continental





Bitterly cold winters
Warm humid
summers
Moderate rainfall year
around
Northeastern United
States
Our Climate
Subartic

Summer short and
cool
 Winter long and
bitterly cold
 Light precipitation in
summer
 Ex. Russia, Canada,
and Alaska
Polar
 Average
Temperature is always below 26
degrees F even in the warm months
 Near Poles
Ice Cap

Average Temperature
is always at or below
freezing.
 Covered with snow
and ice
 Intense cold makes
the air dry
 Ex. Greenland and
Antarctica.
Tundra

Short cold summers
 Bitterly cold winters
 Frozen soil (no tree or
plant growth)
 Warmest temperature
about 26 degrees F.
Highlands

Temperature drops as
altitude increases
mountain region can
contain many
climates.
 Mountain can have a
year round covering
of ice and snow at
their peaks
 Ex. Rocky Mountains