9-3: Climate Regions

6th Grade Earth Science

9-3: Climate Regions

• Climate is classified by temperature and precipitation into regions. There are six main regions:

1. Tropical rainy 2. Dry 3. Temperate marine 4. Temperate continental 5. Polar 6. highlands

Climate Regions

9-3: Climate Regions

• There are two types of tropical rainy climates, Tropical Wet and Tropical Wet and Dry. Both are in low-lying lands near the equator.

• Tropical wet rains all year round. Heat causes thunderstorms to form every afternoon.

1. Tropical Rainy Climates

9-3: Climate Regions

• Dense rain forests grow in these regions – vines, trees, animals, etc.

• A rain forest is a forest where large amounts of rain fall every year.

• Hawaii is the only place in the USA that has this region.

9-3: Climate Regions

• Tropical wet-and-dry regions have a little less rain and have a distinct dry season and rainy season.

• This creates large grassy areas called savannas with some trees that can survive the dry season.

9-3: Climate Regions

• If an area receives less rainfall than can evaporate, it is a dry climate.

• Dry climates include arid and semiarid climates.

2. Dry Climates

9-3: Climate Regions

• Arid climates get less than 25 cm of rain in a year, sometimes NO rain.

• Only certain plants can survive this, like cactus, yuccas.

• They can be sandy or rocky.

Arid Climate

9-3: Climate Regions

• Semiarid climates get 25 to 50 cm of rain in a year, and usually form on the edges of deserts.

• These areas are called steppes. A steppe is dry but gets enough rain for grasses and small bushes to grow.

• The Great Plains is an example of steppes in the USA.

Semiarid Climate

9-3: Climate Regions

• Along the coasts of continents in temperate zones you will find temperate marine climates.

• There are three kinds:

1. Marine west coast 2. Mediterranean 3. Humid subtropical

3. Temperate Marine Climates

9-3: Climate Regions

• Latitudes above 40˚ north and south on the west side of continents are the coolest temperate climates called marine west coast climates.

• Large pine tree forests, like redwoods, grow in these regions.

Marine West Coast

9-3: Climate Regions

• Mediterranean climates are warmer and dryer than the marine west coast climate.

• Dense shrubs and small trees form what is called a chaparral.

Mediterranean Climate

Look familiar? The hills above us are chaparral.

9-3: Climate Regions

• This is the warmest temperate marine climate – humid subtropical.

• It forms on the edge of the tropics, having humid, wet summers (with some hurricanes!!) and mild, drier winters.

Humid Subtropical

9-3: Climate Regions

• Mixed forests grow, with hickory, maple, oak, ash, and pine trees common.

9-3: Climate Regions

• Temperate continental climates are only found on continents in the northern hemisphere, away from large bodies of water.

• The two types are:

1. Humid continental

2. Subarctic

4. Temperate Continental Climates

9-3: Climate Regions

• Humid Continental have cold winters with rain and snow.

• Summers are more humid and more rain falls than in winter.

Humid Continental

9-3: Climate Regions

• Subarctic climates are north of the humid continental climates.

• Winters are long and bitterly cold.

• Summers are short and cool.

Subarctic

9-3: Climate Regions

• Polar climates are the coldest climate regions and includes the ice cap and tundra climates.

• These climates are relatively dry – cold air doesn’t hold much water.

5. Polar Climates

9-3: Climate Regions

• Polar climates are the coldest climate regions and includes the ice cap and tundra climates.

• These climates are relatively dry – cold air doesn’t hold much water.

5. Polar Climates

9-3: Climate Regions

• Ice cap climates are mainly found on Greenland and Antarctica.

• Stays freezing most of the year.

9-3: Climate Regions

• Tundra climates are very cold in winter and cool in summer.

• The ground is permanently frozen, called permafrost.

• No trees, but grass, moss, small shrubs grow fast in the short summer.

9-3: Climate Regions

• Highland climates are climates that are colder than the surrounding area due to altitude.

• Climbing 1000 meters up is like going north 1200km.

• So at the very top of the California’s Sierra mountains, it is like the tundra near the north pole.

6. Finally …. Highlands

9-3: Climate Regions Summary

• Scientists have categorized earth’s different climates based on precipitation and temperature into 6 regions.

• Each region has unique vegetation and animal life.