Climate Earth Science Chapter 20 Pages 560-573 Elements of weather and climate Temperature Range of temperature Seasonal temperature pattern Rainfall Overall rainfall Seasonal distribution of rainfall Compared to evaporation potential Pressure Predominant pressure Seasonal fluctuation of pressure Weather vs. Climate Climate is the weather you expect Weather is what you get, whether you expect it or not (Note: if you spell it whether it has a different meaning) Atmospheric Circulation Ocean circulation Jan and July temps Values used for Koppen System Overall temperature Evaporation compared to precipitation Absolute rainfall Rainfall distribution Extreme temperature World climate map Koppen Climate System A tropical: wet, monsoon, dry w/s B dry: desert/steppe, low/mid latitude C humid mid-latitude, mild winter: wet summer, dry summer west coast D humid mid-latitude severe winter E polar: tundra, ice cap H highland: modified version of local lowland area cooler, moister 1
Af Tropical rainforest A Tropical climates NEVER COLD Rain forest always wet Monsoon extreme seasonal rainfall Savannah very dry months A Climatic diagrams Monsoon Climate Tropical Monsoon Due to arrival of ITCZ in a local area at a certain season ITCZ migrates out of area, leaving a distinct dry season Southern Asia, Sothwestern Pacific islands, Western Equatorial Africa, Northeastern South America, Aw Tropical Savannah http://www.freewebs.com/scienceandsociety/summermonsoonpdem2.gif Tropical Savanna Never cold Pronounced dry season: lasts longer than wet season Wet season isn t as wet as monsoon climate Subtropical desert B Dry climates EVAPORATION POTENTIAL EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION Low latitude deserts always warm Subtropical high h pressure 20-30 N and S of equator Mid latitude deserts can be quite cold Further poleward than low latitude deserts Rain shadow effect http://www.gerber-travel.ch/tours/libya_1999_5.htm 2
Cold desert B Cilmate Diagrams Steppe Climate Transition from desert climate to another climate next to the desert Not as dry as desert Desert has more evaporation compared to rainfall than steppe Dessert: mmm.cake (Do you see they are spelled differently?) http://www.asphalto.org/?user_id=907&phpsessid=a55... Sub-tropical Steppe Mid latitude steppe Worldwide arid zones http://os.inf.tu-dresden.de/~nf2/nz_farewell/ http://61966.rapidforum.com/topic=101082217975 C Mild mid-latitude climate Humid MILD WINTER Divisions: Hot summer: dry or wet Warm summer: dry or wet Marine west coastal climate unique subdivision of dry summer that extends far poleward of other mild climates Moderated by the ocean and the westerlies Mild Humid wet all year Mild, Dry summer climate http://www.us-parks.com/images/everglades-national-park/plantlife-of-everglades-p-3629-m.jpg http://usparks.about.com/od/nationalparksus/ig/santamonicaphotos/scenery11.htm 3
C Climate Diagrams Marine west coast Coastal Alaska Northern mild climate due to incoming moist air from ocean by westerlies http://thewondersofnature.com/bears/co_scenery_01.html http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/climate_systems/marine_west_coast.html D Severe mid latitude SEVERE WINTERS Humid continental Cold winter Wet summer Hardwood forests Subarctic Not warm in summer Needle-leaf evergreens Taiga D Climate Diagrams Humid continental severe winter http://www.public.iastate.edu/~glh/natregion/ FRONTIMAGES/front6.jpg Midlatitude humid continental Midlatitude humid continental Taiga http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/biogeography/biomes_midlatitude_forests_page_1.html http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/biogeography/biomes_midlatitude_forests_page_1.html 4
E Polar climate TOO COLD FOR TREES Tundra some month is above freezing Ice cap no months are above freezing Tundra E Climate Diagrams Ice cap climate World climate map Highland Modified version of local climate Cooler, moister http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/climate_systems/icecap.html Lowland adjacent to H Highland difference H compared to adjacent climate 5