22.2 Climate ZonesChapter 22

March 9th, 2015

Climate Zone TypesTropical

Middle Latitude

Polar

** Because precipitation in each zone varies… There is MORE THAN ONE CLIMATE IN EACH ZONE!!

Tropical Know for high temps

Located in equatorial regions

Rain Forest Central Africa, South America (Amazon), Central

America, SE Asia) Humid/warm Annual rainfall 200 cm

Desert largest belt across N. Africa and SW Asia

Very little precip. Hot days/cold nightsAnnual rainfall < 25 cm.

Tropical Cont.Savanna

large open grassland/drought resistant shrubsSmall temp rangeAlternating wet/dry periods. Annual rainfall at 50 cm.

Rain Forest

SavannaDEsert

Mid Latitude Winter Average Maximum Temps < 18°C

Summer Average Minimum Temps >10°C

Marine West deciduous trees, dense forests, mild summer/winter

Frequent rainfallSmall temp range

Steppe drought resistant veg, cold/dry winter-warm/wet

summer Annual precip < 40 cmLarge temp range

Mid Latitude Cont. Humid Continental

wide variety veg, evergreens, variable weather Annual precip > 75 cmLarge temp range

Humid Subtropicalbroadleaf and evergreen trees/high humidity

Annual precip ~ 75-165 cm. Large temp range

Mediterranean broadleaf and evergreen trees, long/dry summer &

mild/wet winterAnnual precip ~ 40 cm.Small temp range

Steppe

Marine West Humid

Continental

Mediterranean

Polar Average Temps at or below freezing!

Subarctic evergreen trees, short/cool summers, long/cold winters

Annual precip 25-50 cm.Largest annual temp range

Tundra treeless plains/9 months of below freezing

Annual precip 25 cm.Avg temp below 4oC

Polar Icecap little/no life, temp below freezing year-round, high winds

Avg temp below freezingLow annual precip

Local Climate Microclimate – Climate of a SMALL area

EX: Rural, Urban, Suburban Influenced by – elevation, proximity to water, human built

structures

Heat Island – occurs in citiesBuilding absorb & radiate heat more than vegetation

Highland Climates Elevation increases – temperatures

decrease

Highland Climates – mountainous regionsLarge variations in temps & precipitation over

short distances

Large Bodies of WaterAffect climate

Due to the high specific heat of water

Water holds heat energy in

Therefore, precipitation nearby increases