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Climate Regions
What is Climate?
Weather is the day-to-day changes in atmospheric conditions
Climate is long-term weather conditions Temperature and precipitation are the most
important expressions of climate
What aspects of the environment are influenced by climate?
Vegetation Animal life Soils Landforms Water resources
Ecosystems What is an ecosystem? An area of interaction between plants,
animals,and their environment Unique ecosystems evolve as a result of
differing climate conditions Climatology studies the climate regions that
have evolved in response to different moisture and temperature conditions
Does Climate Repeat Itself?
Koppen’s Climate Region Map
Can we make any generalizations? Latitude
Single most important factor-Why?
Maritime versus continental locations Windward coasts have cooler summers and warmer
winters
Precipitation related to pressure and wind belts
High pressure – dry, Converging winds - rainy
Mountains have different climates Mountains are cooler than lowlands
Greek’s Climate Regions
Frigid
Frigid
Temperate
Temperate
Torrid
Latitude
Maritime and Continental Climates
Crescent City
Chicago
New York
Maritime climates are under the influence of westerly winds
Continental climate dominated by continental temperatures
Continental climates are under the influence of winds from the continental interior
Cold California Current brings cooler temperatures to the coast in summer
Herbertson’s Climate Regions
Pressure and Wind Belts
Polar High Polar Easterlies Polar Front Westerlies Subtropical
High N E Trade
Winds Intertropical
Convergence Zone SE Trades
What is the climate of each of these pressure and wind belts?
What happens to all these pressure and wind belts?
They shift north and south with the overhead sun
Do they shift as far north and south as the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn?
No, about 5º N and 5º S
Where in the World is it Raining Today ?
The world’s rainy places coincide with global pressure and wind belts
Three Major Rain Belts
The Northern Hemisphere Polar Front Midlatitude Cyclonic Storms - low pressure
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) Trade winds converge along the equatorial low Convectional lifting produces cumulus clouds
The Southern Hemisphere Polar Front Midlatitude Cyclonic Storms - low pressure
Animation Showing Monthly Rainfall
Mean Annual Precipitation
STH STH
STH STH STH
Africa’s Climate Regions
Tropic of Cancer
Equator
North America Climates
Koppen’s Climate Classification Most widely used map of climate regions Empirical-quantitative approach that uses climate
statistics compiled over 30 years Designed with plants in mind Each climate is defined according to set values of
mean monthly precipitation and mean monthy temperature
Koppen’s Climate Regions
Koppen Classification
(A) Tropical rainy climates Every month over 64.4 F
(B) Dry climates Evaporation exceeds precipitation
Koppen Classification
(C) Mild, humid climates Coldest month below 64.4 F but above 26.6 F
(D) Snowy-forest climates Coldest month below 26.6 F but warmest month over
50F (E) Polar climates
Warmest month below 50 F
Why is the Bay Area rainy in winter and dry in summer?
The jet stream and the Polar Front move into the Bay Area in winter
The Subtropical High dominates our weather in Summer
Global Regions of Mediterranean and Marine west-coast “C” climates.
Mediterranean Climate Zones: West coasts ~30-40° Latitude
Global Regions of Moist Subtropical ClimateGlobal Regions of Moist Subtropical Climate
East coasts ~25-35° Latitude.
East vs. West Coast ClimatesEast vs. West Coast Climates
Mediterranean Climate in Monterey, CA
Moist subtropical climate in Charleston, South Carolina.
West Coast PrecipitationWest Coast Precipitation
Dry all year ~20-30°
Dry summer wet winter ~30-40°
Dry summer wet winter ~30-40°
Reality Check Most climates between the
tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are:
Which major climate group is not in the Southern hemisphere?
Which major group forms the cold summer climates of the Arctic?
Which climates are dry? What climate dominates
Australia?
Does the U.S. have any A (tropical moist) climates?
Does the U.S. have a BWh (hot desert)?
What major climate group dominates Canada and Russia?
What climate makes up most of Western Europe?
What climate is not classified using Koppen?
Berkeley and San Jose Climographs
Annual rainfall – 14.6 inchesAnnual rainfall – 22.3 inches
Review QuestionsReview Questions
1. What do clouds need in addition to saturation?
2. Consider the topographic profile diagrammed below.
Cloud condensation nuclei
Ocean
Prevailing windsA
C
B
This would induce what “type” of lifting?
What is the process that causes condensation?
How would the amount of precipitation at A, B, and C compare?
Ocean
Prevailing windsA
C
B
Point B above is said to be in the ________________ of the mountain shown.
What type of local wind is commonly experienced at B? Is it a hot or cold wind?
rain shadow
Chinook wind. It’s a hot wind.
What is the cause of the seasons?
Tilt of earth’s axis as it orbits the sun Revolution Parallelism