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Climate
Climate - Defined simply as _________________________. Climatic classifications are usually
determined by ___________________ and _________________________.
Climatic Classifications
Tropical - Occupies almost all of the land area ________________________________.
Tropical Wet - Tropical wet represents the region closest to the equator. These regions have very
little seasonal variation. Monthly averages are near 80 degrees; averages rarely vary more than 8
degrees year round. ___________ temperatures, high humidity, and ______________ precipitation
amounts characterize this classification. Year round precipitation amounts range from 60 to 100
inches per year, and this is usually in the form of rain via near daily thunderstorm activity. The
principal climatic control factor within this region is ____________________.
Tropical Savanna -This classification can be found along the equator to approximately _________
degrees north and south. This group has a greater range than other tropical groupings and is the best
example of the delineation between ____________________________ seasons. The temperatures
remain near the same as other tropical classifications. Precipitation is concentrated within the
spring and summer months when these areas may receive thirty five to seventy inches of
precipitation. Fall and winter months are in many cases completely dry.
Midlatitude
Mediterranean - Usually found at thirty-five degrees north or south, and on the ____________side
of continents. Winter temperature averages are_____________, with most of the precipitation
received in these months. Summers are ____ and ______________. Examples of this climate can
be found in ____________________, South Africa, and of course in the _____________________
region.
Humid Subtropical - Found between twenty and forty degrees north or south, and often on the
______________side of continents. This grouping has greater amounts of precipitation than the
Mediterranean classification. Usually most of this precipitation is in the form of rain falling in
_________months. Summer temperatures usually average between seventy to eighty degrees, while
winters can be described as ten to twenty degrees colder than the Mediterranean grouping. One
important difference is the frequency of freezing temperatures, which leads to a much ________
growing season. An example of this classification is Houston.
Marine West Coast - Marine west coast is generally found between forty and sixty five degrees
north or south, and often on the ____________ side of continents. The key factor behind this
grouping is wind off the ___________ moderates temperatures. If you simply looked at latitudinal
position you would assume more extreme temperatures, yet moderate due to the marine influence.
Summer temperatures average sixty to seventy degrees, while winters average thirty five to forty
degrees. These regions also have high humidity levels, a large number of cloudy and foggy days.
Examples of this climate can be found within _____________ Europe and the Northwestern U.S.
Severe Midlatitude
Humid Continental - This grouping is usually found on ____________ side of continents. These
regions usually experience a great year round and daily range. Summer temperatures average near
seventy degrees and are __________ in duration. Winter temperatures average between ten to
twenty five degrees, with one to five months experiencing temperatures below freezing. Coastal
regions will have more moderate temperatures and higher precipitation amounts. Inland locations
have more extreme temperatures and drier conditions. Examples of this climate can be found in the
___________ America, Asia, and ____________ Europe.
Sub-Arctic - Sub-Arctic regions can be found between fifty to seventy degrees north. Generally
look for a ______, __________, _________, winter and a ________ warm summer. Usually this
grouping has a ______________ month period where average temperatures are below freezing. Ice
formations can be found from _______________ until May. Summer temperatures average from
fifty to sixty degrees. Precipitation amounts are very low, commonly from five to twenty inches,
most frequently experienced in summer months. Examples of this climate can be found in Western
Alaska, ____________, and Eurasia.
Polar
These climatic classifications represent regions that are the most remote from the sun. Latitudinal
position is the principle control.
Tundra - These regions have the distinction of having one month of temperatures that average
above freezing. Severity of the cold usually depends on an inland or coastal location. Total
precipitation is below ten inches. Examples of this climate can be found along the fringes of the
_____________ Circle, and the upper latitudes of ___________ America.
Ice Cap - Ice cap covers approximately ___________ percent of the earth's surface. The warmest
month averages __________, and the coldest months usually average between thirty to sixty below
zero. This region may experience temperatures of one hundred below zero. Often this grouping is
described as polar deserts because they receive less than five inches of precipitation per year, yet
evaporation is minimal.
At Any Latitude
Dry Climates
Desert – These can be found at any latitude. They are characterized by lack of precipitation – less
than _____________ per year. Can be _______________ or ___________________.
Semiarid – Transition zone between desert and other climate areas. ______________ abound, but
usually _______________.
Highland or Mountain - How do you achieve freezing temperatures, along the equator? Elevation!
When determining conditions within this classification, each location must be looked at
individually. The following factors should be considered; windward or leeward location, angle of
mountain peak to determine sun exposure, the elevation, and location of the mountain within the
range. Location within a range often determines amount of sunlight and wind variations. Elevation
is also a factor in wind variation, the higher the elevation the less predictable the winds due to air
pressure decreases.
Climatic Controls
The following section defines the factors that control climate.
L - Latitude
C - Continentality
E - Elevation
M - Mountain Barriers
O - Ocean Currents
Latitude - Determines the amount and intensity of ____________received in a given area. The
principle factor behind most climatic classifications.
Continentality - The impact of a large _________________on climate and weather patterns.
Usually results in more severe temperatures, depending on latitudinal position, and coastal or
inland location. Ex: Houston's climate is moderated by wind off the Gulf of Mexico.
Elevation - Despite a latitudinal position along the equator, location at higher elevation can
experience freezing temperatures and precipitation.
Mountain Barriers- The title denotes the situation, the mountain serves as a barrier to ________
and _____________ air. Air masses coming down a mountain on the leeward side will be dry and
warm. A ____________is created by a mountain blocking what would be normal temperature and
precipitation patterns.
Ocean Currents- This climatic control refers to the impact of air off the ___________. Often this
factor serves as a moderating force, as seen with ________________________________ climates.
Hurricane - A cyclonic storm begins from five to twenty degrees from the equator as a _________
depression. If conditions are right, fed by warm, moist air, a hurricane will form with winds of at
least 75 M.P.H. Hurricanes move in a _______________________ direction. These storms are
called a typhoon in the Pacific, and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean. The strongest hurricane to hit the
U.S. was ___________________with winds of over 200 M.P.H. The most lives lost via a hurricane
was the "Galveston Storm of 1900", it resulted in _____________________ lives lost. Often it is
not the strength of the storm that results in casualties, but poor construction, improper public
warnings, and flooding.
Types of Precipitation
There are several forms of precipitation; dew, rain, hail, snow, and sleet. Two essential things are
needed to produce any type of precipitation; moisture in the air, and a drop in temperature. There
are three ways of achieving a drop in temperature; convectional, orographic, and cyclonic or
frontal.
Convectional
Convectional precipitation results from
warm, moisture rich air rising over heated
land. As the warm air rises the
____________________ drops. As the
temperature drops so does the air’s ability
to hold water. Think of an air mass as a
sponge; the sponge is cooled and becomes
saturated. Eventually the sponge can no
longer hold water, and eventually will
have to release moisture in some form. If the air mass has __________________, including draft
that travel up and down, __________ can be released.
Orographic
As air moves up on the ______________ side
of the mountain it cools. As air cools it loses
its ability to hold ______________. Eventually
as the air continues to move upward it will
reach dew point and release
___________________. The release of
moisture as a result of rising air due mountain
barriers or topographical features is called
orographic precipitation. The area on the
___________________ side of the mountain is dry. This area is said to be in the
__________________ of the mountain.
Cyclonic or Frontal Precipitation
Cyclonic or frontal precipitation results of a moving _________________. An air mass is defined
as a body of air with similar _______________ and _____________________.