Climatic Zones & Types Part II I've lived in good climate, and it bores the hell out of me. I like weather rather than climate. 1 John Steinbeck
Mediterranean Climates (Csa, Csb) Main locations Western side of continents 30 40º of latitude Mediterranean coast California Central Chile Southern tip of Africa (Cape Town) Australia (Perth & Adelaide) 2
Characteristics Mild, wet winters, dry summers Two sub-types based on summer temperatures a hot summer (interior location) b cool/mild summer (coastal location) 3
Precipitation Moderate annually Winter maximum (midlatitude cyclonic storms) Dominant Controls STH subsidence in summer (forces cyclonic storms pole-ward) Westerly winds and cyclonic storms shift equator-ward in winter 4
Climographs 5
Humid Subtropical (Cfa, Cwa) Main locations Eastern sides of continents 25 30º of latitude Southeastern United States Eastern China Southern Brazil and Uruguay Small areas in Africa and Australia 6
Characteristics Temperatures Summers, warm to hot Winters, mild to cold Precipitation Abundant, mostly as rain Summer maximum 7
Climographs 8
Marine West Coast Main locations Western sides of continents, mainly 40 65º Western and central Europe Largest area North America Oregon to Alaska New Zealand and eastern Australia 9
Characteristics Temperature Very mild winters for latitude Precipitation Moderate to abundant, mostly in winter Many rainy days Much cloudiness Dominant Controls Westerly flow and oceanic influence year-round 10
Climographs 11
Severe Midlatitude Climates (Group D) Distribution of D Climates Only in Northern Hemisphere Within 35 70º of latitude 12
Distinctive Features of D climates Temperatures Large annual temperature range Continentality Cold winter, relatively short summer Precipitation Summer maxima Abundant to meager amounts Diminishes toward inland and pole-ward Two Main Subtypes Humid Continental Subarctic 13
Humid Continental (Dfa, Dfb, Dwa, Dwb) Location N. Hemisphere only 35 55º of latitude Eastern sides of continents 14
Characteristics Temperature Warm/hot summers Large annual temperature range Precipitation Moderate to abundant Summer maxima Dominant Controls Westerly winds and storms Midlatitude cyclones in winter in North America Monsoons in Asia 15
Climographs 16
Sub Arctic (Dfc, Dfd, Dwc, Dwd) Location Northern Hemisphere only Latitudes 50 70º Across North American and Eurasia Characteristics Temperature Long, dark, very cold winters Brief, mild summers Enormous annual temperature range 17
Precipitation Meager Summer maxima Light snow in winter, little melting Dominant Controls Pronounced continentality Alternating Westerlies and cyclonic storms Prominent anticylcones 18
Climographs 19
Polar Climates (Group E) Distribution of E Climates Pole-ward of 70º of latitude 20
Distinctive Characteristics Temperatures Coldest summers Lowest annual average Large annual temperature range Small daily temperature range Extraordinarily dry Low precipitating, mostly snow Evaporation is nil Two subtypes Tundra Ice Cap 21
Tundra (ET) Main Locations Fringes of Arctic Ocean Small coastal areas in Antarctica 22
Characteristics Temperature Long, cold dark winters Brief, cool summers Precipitation Very sparse Mostly snow Dominant Controls Latitude Distance from sources of heat and moisture Extreme seasonal contrasts in sunlight/darkness Polar anticyclones (A and cp air masses) 23
Climographs 24
Ice Cape (EF) Location Antarctica Greenland Characteristics Temperature Long, cold, dark winters Cold, windy summers Precipitation Very sparse, all snow 25
Dominant Controls Latitude Distances from sources of heat and moisture Extreme seasonal contrasts in sunlight/darkness Polar anticyclones (A and cp air masses) 26
Climographs 27
Highland Climate (Group H) Locations High uplands (mountains and plateaus) 28
Characteristics Complex local variation in small areas Vertical climate zonation 29
Changeability of weather Dominant Controls Altitude Slope aspect and slope angle 30
Climographs 31
Global Patterns Idealized General Models of Climate Distribution Idealized seasonal precipitation patterns and climates along the west coasts of continents. 32
Idealized Global Pattern 33
Climatic Distribution in Africa: A Practically Perfect Example 34
Global Climate Change Time scale of observations determine what patterns of change stand out in the record 35
Determining Climates of the Past Animation (End of the Last Ice Age) Dendrochronology Oxygen isotope analysis of oceanic sediments Ice cores Pollen analysis 36
Causes of Long-Term Climate Change Animation (Orbital Variations and Climate Change) Volcanic activity and meteor impacts Fluctuations in orbital output Variations in Earth-Sun relations Greenhouse gas concentrations Feedback mechanisms The roles of the ocean 37
Climate Models Climate prediction Global Circulation Models (GCMs) Mathematical models of Earth s climate system Computer simulation models of future climates (3) 38
Summary The fundamental geographic aspect of climate is its global distribution. The modified Köppen classification system is widely used for its pedagogic value. The basis of the Köppen system is temperatures and precipitation amounts and patterns. 39
The modified Köppen system recognizes six major climatic zones: 1. Tropical humid (A) 2. Dry (B) 3. Mild midlatitude (C) 4. Severe midlatitude (D) 5. Polar (E) 6. Highland (H) A model of climate distribution on a hypothetical continent helps us predict what the climate should be like at a particular location. 40