Climatic Zones p. 75-81

P. 75 fig. 5.1

6 climate regions Each has sub-regions

Tropical Climates - Common

Temp. over 180C every day

A relatively flat temperature line

Low latitude

Between the “Tropics!”

Warm ocean currents and

Prevailing winds.

Tropical Climates-Sub Regions

Tropical Wet & Dry Sub- region

• Very heavy summer rain

• Very dry winter due to seasonal shift in prevailing winds.

• Monsoon regions

• Seasons- dry or wet

Tropical Wet Subregion

• Heavy rain all year due to high temp

• Resulting convectional rain.

• Precipitation in each month is high

Tropical Wet & Dry - Climate graphs

• Precipitation is very high in summer months and very low in winter months

• Relatively flat temperature line

• Temperature relatively constant & high (19-270C)

• Wet and dry seasons

• Wet and dry monsoons

Tropical Wet - Climate graphs

• Precipitation in each month is high

• Temperature constant & high (19-270C)

• Relatively flat temperature line

Dry Climates

Dry Climates

All Dry climates:

< 500mm precipitation annually More evaporation than precipitation No cloud cover High daytime temperatures Low nighttime temperatures Temperatures may vary seasonally Cold ocean currents Rain shadow areas

Dry Climates• Arid or Desert Subregion

– Occur between 10-30oN & 10-30oS

– 10-250mm rain annually– Cold ocean currents and

rain shadow areas– Hot days but cool nights– Little cloud cover allows

heat in during day but heat to escape at night

• Semi-arid steppe Sub- Region – Transition Zone

between desert & Forest

– 250-500mm rain annually

– Seasonal shift in prevailing wind

– Hot days but cool nights – little cloud cover

Arid - Climate graphsArid /desert Climograph p. 76 fig. 5.2

Below is a climate graph for Berbera, Somalia

• Precipitation in each month is low (total less than 250mm)

• Temperature may vary seasonally

Semi-Arid - Climate graphs• Monthly precipitation is fairly low

• Annual total is less than 500mm

• Temperature may vary seasonally

REMEMBER!!!!

The main factor that characterizes the DRY climate zone is the amount of precipitation – there is not very much!

Temperate Mild winter

Temperate Mild Winter Usually near oceans (coastal) Four seasons Higher latitudes result in cooler

winters but warm summers Temperature in coldest month is above –

3oC Close enough to equator to affect

temperature

Temperate Mild winterMarine west coast

• Coastal regions• Many found on

west coast of continents…

• Winters are mild• Warmed by warm

ocean current• Summers are cool

and wet • Orographic

precipitation on mountains

Temperate Mild winterMediterranean

• Mostly around Mediterranean sea area. (Italy, Greece)

• Hot and DRY summers

• Wind from land has little moisture

• Mild winters• Moderating

warm wind from the ocean

Temperate Mild Winter - Subtropical

• Close to “Tropics”

• Hotter summersColder Winters & More precipitation

• Less moderated by ocean but frontal rainfall as polar and tropical air meets

• More summer precipitation

• Convectional rain due to high temperatures

Which is: Marine West Coast , Mediterranean, Subtropical?

Mediterranean

Marine West Coast

Subtropical

Temperate cold winter

Also called Continental

Locations generally affected by continentality

Generally the mid Latitudes

Main distinguishing factor for the 3 subregions in this group is latitude – closer to equator vs. further from the equator

Temperature of the coldest month is below –3oC

Higher latitudes increase seasonal affect.

Temperate cold winter - Continental Warm Summer

Compared to the other sub-regions in this group:

• Summer is warmer

• Lower latitude -closer to the equator

Temperate cold winter - Continental Cool Summer

• Further north than the Continental Warm Summer.

• Result - Summer is cooler than in the Continental Warm Summer.

• Also means less precipitation than in the Continental Warm Summer.

Continental Subregion

* Temp Range increases as you move inland.Away from moderating influence of ocean.

* Summer days are very long.Higher latitude – increases effect of earth’s tilt.

* Summer temp decreases as latitude increases.Further from direct rays of sun.

* Summer has highest precipitation.Frontal rainfall as polar and tropical air masses meet.

Temperate cold winter - Subarctic

• Winters are long and very cold –

• High latitude• Little

precipitation• Too cold• Heavy snow• Too cold for

snow to melt

Subarctic

Continental Warm Summer

Continental Cool Summer

Which is: Continental Warm Summer, Continental Cool Summer, Subarctic?

Compare precipitation and temperature!!

Which is further north??

Polar Region High latitudes (+60o latitude)Near poles

Polar Region

POLAR CLIMATES

Temperature never goes above 100 C

High Latitude

Sun may not shine for months

High latitudes increase the effect of the tilt of the earth

Polar Region – Tundra• Less severe on the coast

• Has moderating influence of the ocean

Polar Region –Ice Cap• More severe inland, away from the ocean

• Temperatures never go above 0o C

• Continentality makes it colder.

• Away from moderating influence of ocean

Which is Tundra, which is Ice Cap?

Ice Cap

TundraNotice how little precipitation occurs.

Highlands

• Elevations over 1000 m• Colder conditions than the lower lying

areas surrounding it.• Elevation decreases temperatures

Patterns of climatic zones Globally speaking where is each climatic zone

concentrated?

1. Tropical ____

2. Dry ____

3. Temperate ___

4. Polar ____

5. Highland ____

Practice Question #2 p. 75 Part a

Georgetown, Guyana

• Tropical

• (Tropical wet)

Bombay, India

• Tropical - Monsoonal

• (Tropical Wet & Dry)

Montreal

• Temperate Cold Winter

• (Continental Warm Summer)

Alice Springs Australia

• Dry (arid/semiarid)

Practice Question #2 p. 75

Part b

• Montreal & Alice Springs have wide temperature ranges

• Re. Temperature ; colder winter in Montreal

• Re. precipitation; more in Montreal

• Re. Months of summer; opposite summer months due to North & south Hemispheres

Practice Question #2 p. 75 Part c Different hemispheres

give opposite seasons

• Question #2 p. 75 Part d• Montreal = temperate cold

winter (Cont. Warm Summer)

• Alice springs = Dry (Semi-arid)

• Question #3 p. 77 is a good practice question too.