Download World Climates

World Climates
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Climate is the characteristic condition of
the atmosphere in the lower layer of
Earth’s atmosphere. It is based upon the
long- term weather in an area accumulated
over a period of at least 30 years.
Two of the most important factors used in
determining the climate of an area are the
air temperature and the amount of
precipitation received.
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The climate of a region will determine
which types of plants will grow as well as
what kind of animals will be there.
The angle of the sun’s rays is most direct
from 0° to 23.5° making that area the
hottest. The angle of the sun’s rays are
least direct from 66.5° to 90° making that
the coldest area on Earth. In the middle are
the more moderate temperatures which
vary more with season.
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Trade winds are located in the tropical
regions blowing from the northeast in the
northern hemisphere and from the
southeast in the southern hemisphere.
The trade winds meet at the equator and
rise as the air is heated. The rising air
cools, forms clouds and creates
precipitation. The bands of cloudy and
rainy weather near the equator create what
we know as normal tropical conditions.
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In the mid-latitudes (30°- 60°) the
Westerlies steer the storms from west to
east.
Our climate is based upon the location of
the hot and cold air masses as well as the
atmospheric circulation caused by the
Trade Winds and the Westerlies.
Seasons
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Seasons are the result of Earth’s tilt on it’s
axis 23.5°; the fact that Earth revolves
around the Sun and that the tilt of Earth on
it’s axis remains parallel throughout it’s
revolution.
As a result different parts of Earth receive
higher and lower levels of radiant energy at
different times of the year creating the
seasons
Climate Classification
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The Koeppen Climate Classification
System is the most widely used for
classifying the world’s climates.
It was created by the Russian-German
climatologist Wladimir Koeppen who
divided Earth’s surface into climatic
regions that matched the world patterns of
vegetation and soils.
Five Major Climate Types
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Moist tropical Climates
Dry Climates
Humid/Middle Latitude Climates
Continental Climates
Cold Climates
Moist Tropical Climates
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known for their
high temperatures
year round and for
their large amount
of rain year round
Dry Climates
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characterized by little
rain and a huge daily
temperature range.
Two sub-groups:
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semiarid or
steppe
arid or desert
Humid Middle Latitude Climates
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Land/water
differences play a
large part
These climates have
warm, dry summers
and cool, wet winters
Continental Climates
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can be found in the
interior regions of
large land masses
total precipitation is
not very high and
seasonal temperatures
Cold Climates
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These climates are
found where
permanent ice and
tundra are always
present
Only four months of
the year have above
freezing temperatures
Three basic climate groups
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The major climate groups show
the dominance of special
combinations of air mass source
regions:
Low Latitude Climates
Mid-latitude climates
High latitude climates
Low latitude climates are
controlled by equatorial
tropical air masses.
Tropical Moist Climates – rainforest
Wet-Dry Tropical Cimates – savanna
Dry tropical Climate – desert biome
Mid-latitude climates are
affected by tropical and
polar air masses.
•Dry Mid-latitude Climate – steppe
•Mediterranean Climate – chaparral
•Dry Mid-latitude Climate – grasslands
•Moist Continental Climate – deciduous
forest
High Latitude Climates are
dominated by polar and arctic
air masses.
Boreal forest Climate – taiga
Tundra Climate – tundra
Highland Climate – alpine
Polar Ice Cap – cold desert
Tropical Moist Climate- rainforest
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Rainfall is heavy in all months. The total annual
rainfall is often more than 250 cm (100 in). There are
seasonal differences in monthly rainfall but
temperatures of 27C (80 F) mostly stay the same.
Humidity is between 77% and 88%. Summers are
warm and very humid. It rains a lot in winter.
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Latitude Range: 10 S to 25 N
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Global Position: Amazon Basin; Congo Basin of
Equatorial Africa; East Indies from Sumatra to New
Guinea
Tropical Moist Climate- rainforest
Wet-dry Tropical Climates - savanna
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A seasonal change occurs between wet tropical air
masses and dry tropical air masses. As a result, there
is a very wet season and a very dry season.
Temperature ranges around 16C. The annual
precipitation in all months is less than .25cm (.01 in).
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Latitude Range: 15 to 25 N and S
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Global Position: India, Indochina, West Africa,
southern Africa, South America and the north coast
of Australia
Wet-dry Tropical Climates - savanna
Dry Tropical Climates - desert
These climates are found in low latitude deserts between
18 to 23  in both hemispheres centered on the tropics of
Cancer and Capricorn. Winds are light allowing for the
evaporation of moisture in the intense heat. Air sinks so
the area is seldom penetrated by air masses that produce
rain creating a very dry heat. The temperature ranges
around 16 C. Annual precipitation is less that 0.25cm
(0.1 in).
Latitude Range: 15 to 25 N and S
 Global Position: southwestern United States; northern
Mexico; Argentina; north Africa; south Africa; central
part of Australia
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Dry Tropical Climates - desert
Mid Latitude Climates
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Climates in this zone are affected by the
tropical air masses moving toward the poles
and polar air masses moving toward the
equator.
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These two air masses are in constant conflict.
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Either air mass may dominate the area for a
time, but neither has exclusive control.
Dry Mid-latitude Climates - steppe
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This is a semi-arid climate with less than 10 cm (4 in)
annual precipitation in the driest regions to 50 cm (20 in)
in the moister areas.
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Latitude Range: 35 - 55  N
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Global Position: Western North America (Great Basin,
Columbia Plateau, Great Plains); Eurasian interior,
from eastern Europe to the Gobi Desert and north China
Dry Mid-latitude Climates - steppe
Mediterranean Climate - chaparral
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This climate has a wet winter and an extremely dry
summer. Plants have adapted to the extremes in
rainfall and temperature during the summer and
winter seasons. Plants range from forests, to
woodland, to scrub. Temperature range is 7 C (12 F)
with 42 cm (17 in) of precipitation.
Latitude Range: 30 - 50  north and south
Global Position: central and southern California;
coastal zones bordering the Mediterranean sea;
coastal western Australia and southern Australia;
Chilean coast; Cape Town region of South Africa
Mediterranean Climate - chaparral
Dry Midlatitude Climate - grasslands
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This climate is limited to the interiors of North America
and Eurasia. Ocean air masses are blocked by mountain
ranges to the west and south allowing polar air masses to
dominant winter and local air masses to dominant
summer. The temperature range is 31 C (56  F) and
average precipitation is 81 cm (32 in).
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Latitude Range: 30  - 55  N and S
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Global Position: western North America (Great Basin,
Columbia Plateau, Great Plains; Eurasian interior
Dry Midlatitude Climate - grasslands
Moist Continental Climate –
deciduous forest
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This climate is the battleground of polar and
tropical air masses. Seasonal changes between
hot summers and cold winter are very large.
Precipitation varies from 40 to 60 in per year.
The average temperature is 31 C (56 F)
Latitude Range: 30  - 55  north and south
Global Position: eastern parts of the United
States and southern Canada; northern China;
Korea; Japan; central and eastern Europe
Moist Continental Climate –
deciduous forest
High Latitude Climates
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Polar and arctic air masses dominate
these regions. Canada and Siberia are
two air-mass sources which fall into this
group.
There is no counterpart in the southern
hemisphere since the largest land masses
are in the northern hemisphere.
Boreal Forest Climate - taiga
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This is a continental climate with long, very
cold winters and short cool summers. The
temperature range is the greatest from -25º C
(-14º F) to 16º C (60 º F) with the annual
precipitation at 31cm (12 in).
Latitude Range: 50º - 70º north and south
Global Position: central and western Alaska;
Canada from the Yukon to Labrador;
Eurasia, from northern Europe across all of
Siberia to the Pacific Ocean
Boreal Forest Climate - taiga
Tundra Climate - tundra
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This climate is found along arctic coastal
areas. The arctic air masses dominate the area
but ocean winds keep temperatures from
being as severe as interior regions. The winter
is long and severe. There is a short mild season
but not a true summer. Temperatures range
from -22º C to 6º C (-10º - 41º F). Average
precipitation is 20 cm (8 in).
Latitude Range: 60º - 75º N
Global Position: arctic zone of North America;
Hudson Bay Region; Greenland coast;
northern Siberia bordering the Arctic Ocean
Tundra Climate - tundra
Highland Climate - alpine
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Highland climates are cool to cold found on mountains
and high plateaus. The temperature cools rapidly as the
altitude gets higher. These climates are very important
to mid latitude climates since they are a storage area for
water in the form of snow which melts in the spring.
Temperatures range from -18º -10º C (-2º - 50º F) and
precipitation averagea 23 cm (9 in).
Latitude Range: All over the world
Global Position: Rocky Mountain Range in North
America; the Andean mountain range in South America;
the Alps in Europe; Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa; the
Himalayans in Tibet; Mt. Fuji, Japan.
Highland Climate - alpine
Polar Ice Cap – cold desert
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This region is permanently frozen with no
temperatures above 32º F. Precipitation is
very low but varies from region to region.
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Latitude Range: 60º - 90º N and S
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Location: Arctic; Antarctica; Greenland
Polar Ice Cap