chapter 3 – weather & climate
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World Climate Regions. Chapter 3 – Weather & Climate. 1. Tropical Humid 2. Tropical Wet & Dry 3. Arid (Desert) 4. Semiarid 5. Mediterranean 6. Marine West Coast. 7. Humid Subtropical 8. Humid Continental 9. Subarctic 10. Tundra 11. Ice Cap 12. Highland (Alpine). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
World Climate RegionsWorld Climate Regions
1. Tropical Humid
2. Tropical Wet & Dry
3. Arid (Desert)
4. Semiarid
5. Mediterranean
6. Marine West Coast
7. Humid Subtropical
8. Humid Continental
9. Subarctic
10. Tundra
11. Ice Cap
12. Highland (Alpine)
Tropical HumidTropical Humid
• Little variation in temperature over the year.Little variation in temperature over the year.• It is always hot with a daily average temperature of It is always hot with a daily average temperature of
80 degrees Fahrenheit.80 degrees Fahrenheit.• Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is
usually more than 80 inches.usually more than 80 inches.• Found in Central and South America, as well as Found in Central and South America, as well as
Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Indonesia .Indonesia .
• Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.• Found along the Equator or areas close to the Found along the Equator or areas close to the
Equator.Equator.• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
Tropical Tropical Wet & DryWet & Dry
• This sub region has a rainy This sub region has a rainy season in the summer and a season in the summer and a dry season in winter.dry season in winter.
• Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.• Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.• Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid
climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.• The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm
ARIDARID(DESERT) (DESERT) • Deserts are categorized by the amount Deserts are categorized by the amount
annual rainfall received.annual rainfall received.• Deserts receive less than 10 inches of Deserts receive less than 10 inches of
rainfall per year.rainfall per year.• Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity
and high temperatures during the day. At and high temperatures during the day. At night the temperature falls because the night the temperature falls because the dry air cannot hold heat well.dry air cannot hold heat well.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm
SemiaridSemiarid
• This sub-region does not receive much This sub-region does not receive much precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per year.year.
• Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.• This climate is located in the interior of This climate is located in the interior of
continents, or in a zone around deserts.continents, or in a zone around deserts.• Much of the American west falls into this climate Much of the American west falls into this climate
type. type.
MediterraneanMediterranean• Primarily found surrounding the Primarily found surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.• Summers are dry and hot while winters Summers are dry and hot while winters
are cool and rainy.are cool and rainy.• Supports a dense human population and Supports a dense human population and
rich agricultural activity.rich agricultural activity.• Many of the first great human civilizations Many of the first great human civilizations
thrived in this climate. thrived in this climate. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm
Marine West Marine West Coast Coast
• Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy, Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy, foggy, and damp.foggy, and damp.
• Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.
• Precipitation is evenly distributed Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year.throughout the year.
• Rains a lot throughout the year.Rains a lot throughout the year.
• Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest) Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest)
• London, EnglandLondon, England
Humid SubtropicalHumid Subtropical • Long periods of heat and humidity Long periods of heat and humidity
characterize this climate region.characterize this climate region.• These areas are found on the east coast of These areas are found on the east coast of
continents and are often subject to continents and are often subject to hurricanes in late summer and autumn.hurricanes in late summer and autumn.
• Winters are mild to cool, Winters are mild to cool, depending on latitude. depending on latitude.
• Very suitable for raising Very suitable for raising crops, (rice).crops, (rice).
• Philadelphia, PA & South Philadelphia, PA & South
JerseyJersey
HumidHumid ContinentalContinental
• This climate region experiences a This climate region experiences a variety in temperature and precipitation.variety in temperature and precipitation.
• Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees) Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees) interiors of northern hemisphere continents.interiors of northern hemisphere continents.
• These regions also experience four distinct These regions also experience four distinct seasons.seasons.
• NEPA is located in this climate region.NEPA is located in this climate region.• Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htm
SUBARCTIC SUBARCTIC • Evergreen forests called “TAIGA” Evergreen forests called “TAIGA” cover the lands in this climate region.cover the lands in this climate region.• Huge temperature variations occur between Huge temperature variations occur between
summer and winter.summer and winter.• Summers are short and cool while the winters are Summers are short and cool while the winters are
long & extremely cold.long & extremely cold.• Temperatures at freezing or Temperatures at freezing or
below last five to eight months below last five to eight months of the year.of the year.
• Boreal ForestBoreal Forest
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm
TUNDRA TUNDRA
• Tundra is the flat, treeless lands Tundra is the flat, treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.
• Almost exclusively located in the northern Almost exclusively located in the northern hemispherehemisphere
• Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.• Permanently frozen subsoil called “Permafrost” Permanently frozen subsoil called “Permafrost” • Summer only lasts a few weeks with Summer only lasts a few weeks with
temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm
Ice CapIce Cap
• Snow, ice, and permanently freezing Snow, ice, and permanently freezing temperatures characterize this region.temperatures characterize this region.
• So cold it rarely snows.So cold it rarely snows.• This region is sometimes referred to as a This region is sometimes referred to as a
Polar Desert because it receives less than Polar Desert because it receives less than 10 inches of precipitation per year.10 inches of precipitation per year.
• Coldest temperature = -128.6Coldest temperature = -128.6oo F (Vostok, F (Vostok, Antarctica)Antarctica)
• Found only on the continent of AntarcticaFound only on the continent of Antarctica
HIGHLANDSHIGHLANDS(Alpine)(Alpine)
Highland climates vary depending upon four factors:
1. Latitude
2. Elevation (Altitude)
3. Topography
4. Continental Location
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine.htm
Climate Region Major Characteristics
Tropical HumidTropical Humid Always hot (80o F average) & Always hot (80o F average) &
rains dailyrains daily
Tropical Wet & DryTropical Wet & Dry Rainy season in summer & dry Rainy season in summer & dry
season in winterseason in winter
SemiaridSemiarid About 16” rain per yearAbout 16” rain per year
Arid (Desert)Arid (Desert) Less than 10” rain per year.Less than 10” rain per year.
MediterraneanMediterranean Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy
winters.winters.
Marine West CoastMarine West Coast Northwest United States & Northwest United States &
Western Europe.Western Europe.
Climate Type Major Characteristics
Humid SubtropicalHumid Subtropical Found in SE United States Found in SE United States & subject to hurricanes.& subject to hurricanes.
Humid ContinentalHumid Continental Found in NEPA & Found in NEPA & experiences four seasons.experiences four seasons.
SubarcticSubarctic Evergreen forests dominate Evergreen forests dominate this climate.this climate.
TundraTundra Summers are so short and Summers are so short and cool that permafrost exists.cool that permafrost exists.
Ice CapIce Cap Known as the Polar desertKnown as the Polar desert
Highlands (Alpine)Highlands (Alpine) Climate varies with four Climate varies with four factors.factors.