Climate RegionsClimate Regions

Climate: is the average of all weather conditions if Climate: is the average of all weather conditions if An area over a long period of time.An area over a long period of time.

The main factors that influence The main factors that influence temperature are latitude, altitude, distance temperature are latitude, altitude, distance from a large body of water, and ocean from a large body of water, and ocean currents.currents.

Latitude:Latitude: is the distance from the equator , measured in degrees

Earth’s surface can be divided into 3 temperature zones.

Tropical ZoneTropical Zone Located near the equator between 23.5 north latitude and 23.5 Located near the equator between 23.5 north latitude and 23.5

south latitude.south latitude. It receives direct or nearly direct sunlight all year around.It receives direct or nearly direct sunlight all year around. Climate is warm.Climate is warm.

Polar ZonePolar Zone It extends from 66.5 to 90 north or south latitude.It extends from 66.5 to 90 north or south latitude. The sun’s rays strike at a lower angle neat the north and south The sun’s rays strike at a lower angle neat the north and south

poles.poles. Climate is cold.Climate is cold.

Temperate ZoneTemperate Zone It is located between the tropical and polar zones.It is located between the tropical and polar zones. Located 23.5 to 66.5 north or south latitude.Located 23.5 to 66.5 north or south latitude. In the summer, the sun’s rays strike the zone more directly.In the summer, the sun’s rays strike the zone more directly. In the winter , the rays strike at a lower angle.In the winter , the rays strike at a lower angle. Climate is warm to hot in the summer and cool to cold in the Climate is warm to hot in the summer and cool to cold in the

winter.winter.

Altitude:Altitude: Why does a mountain have polar caps if Why does a mountain have polar caps if

they are located in the tropical zone?they are located in the tropical zone? Temperature of the troposphere Temperature of the troposphere

decreases about 6.5 degrees Celsius for decreases about 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1km increase in altitude. Therefore every 1km increase in altitude. Therefore highland areas everywhere have cool highland areas everywhere have cool climates no matter what their latitude.climates no matter what their latitude.

Distance from a Large Body of WaterDistance from a Large Body of Water

Water heats up more slowly than land; it Water heats up more slowly than land; it also cools down more slowly. Therefore, also cools down more slowly. Therefore, winds from the ocean keep coastal regions winds from the ocean keep coastal regions from reaching extremes of hot and cold.from reaching extremes of hot and cold.

Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents

Warm ocean currents carry warm water Warm ocean currents carry warm water from the tropics toward the poles. Cold from the tropics toward the poles. Cold currents bring cold water from the polar currents bring cold water from the polar zones toward the equator. The surface of zones toward the equator. The surface of the water warms or cools the air above it. the water warms or cools the air above it. The warmed or cooled air then moves The warmed or cooled air then moves over the nearby land. So a warm current over the nearby land. So a warm current brings warm air to the land it touches. A brings warm air to the land it touches. A cold current brings cool air.cold current brings cool air.

Humid TropicalHumid Tropical

Found near the equatorFound near the equator Temperature is always 64 degrees F or Temperature is always 64 degrees F or

higher.higher.

Tropical WetTropical Wet

Always hot and humidAlways hot and humid Heavy rain, at least Heavy rain, at least

6cm a month all year 6cm a month all year around.around.

Lush vegetationLush vegetation Ex. Amazon rain Ex. Amazon rain

forest in South forest in South America.America.

Tropical Wet-DryTropical Wet-Dry

Always hotAlways hot Alternating wet and Alternating wet and

dry seasonsdry seasons Heavy rainfallHeavy rainfall Tropical grasslandTropical grassland Ex. Miami, FloridaEx. Miami, Florida

DryDry

Evaporation is greater than precipitation.Evaporation is greater than precipitation. May be cold or hotMay be cold or hot Inland from the oceanInland from the ocean

DesertDesert Desert (hot and sandy Desert (hot and sandy

or cold and rocky)or cold and rocky) Gets less than 25cm Gets less than 25cm

of rain all yearof rain all year Includes hottest Includes hottest

places on Earth.places on Earth. In most deserts high In most deserts high

daytime temperatures daytime temperatures lead to rapid lead to rapid evaporation.evaporation.

Ex. Phoenix, ArizonaEx. Phoenix, Arizona

SemiaridSemiarid

Edge of the desertEdge of the desertprairies or prairies or

grasslandsgrasslands Great plainsGreat plains Receive about 25-Receive about 25-

50cm of precipitation 50cm of precipitation all year.all year.

Ex. Denver, ColoradoEx. Denver, Colorado

Moist Mid-latitude with Mild Moist Mid-latitude with Mild WintersWinters

Average Temperature 50 degrees F or Average Temperature 50 degrees F or above in the warm monthsabove in the warm months

Between 26-64 degrees F in the coldest Between 26-64 degrees F in the coldest monthsmonths

MediterraneanMediterranean

Warm, dry summersWarm, dry summers Rainy wintersRainy winters Dense shrubs and Dense shrubs and

small treessmall trees Olives and grapesOlives and grapes Some coastal areas Some coastal areas

have cool summers have cool summers and frequent fog.and frequent fog.

Ex. San Fransico, Ex. San Fransico, CaliforniaCalifornia

Humid SubtropicalHumid Subtropical

Hot, muggy summersHot, muggy summers Cool Mild wintersCool Mild winters Southeast United Southeast United

StatesStates Mix forestsMix forests Precipitation fairly Precipitation fairly

even throughout the even throughout the year.year.

Ex. Charlotte, North Ex. Charlotte, North carolinacarolina

Marine West CoastMarine West Coast

Mild Winters (rainy)Mild Winters (rainy) Cool summersCool summers Moderate Moderate

precipitation due to precipitation due to coastal region.coastal region.

Cone bearing treesCone bearing trees Low clouds and fog.Low clouds and fog. Ex. Seattle, Ex. Seattle,

WashingtonWashington

Mid-latitude with Severe wintersMid-latitude with Severe winters

Average Temperature 50 degree F or Average Temperature 50 degree F or above in warm monthsabove in warm months

26 degrees F or below in the coldest 26 degrees F or below in the coldest monthsmonths

Humid ContinentalHumid Continental

Bitterly cold wintersBitterly cold winters Warm humid Warm humid

summerssummers Moderate rainfall year Moderate rainfall year

aroundaround Northeastern United Northeastern United

StatesStates Our ClimateOur Climate

SubarticSubartic

Summer short and Summer short and coolcool

Winter long and Winter long and bitterly coldbitterly cold

Light precipitation in Light precipitation in summersummer

Ex. Russia, Canada, Ex. Russia, Canada, and Alaskaand Alaska

PolarPolar

Average Temperature is always below 26 Average Temperature is always below 26 degrees F even in the warm monthsdegrees F even in the warm months

Near PolesNear Poles

Ice CapIce Cap

Average Temperature Average Temperature is always at or below is always at or below freezing.freezing.

Covered with snow Covered with snow and iceand ice

Intense cold makes Intense cold makes the air drythe air dry

Ex. Greenland and Ex. Greenland and Antarctica.Antarctica.

TundraTundra

Short cold summersShort cold summers Bitterly cold wintersBitterly cold winters Frozen soil (no tree or Frozen soil (no tree or

plant growth)plant growth) Warmest temperature Warmest temperature

about 26 degrees F.about 26 degrees F.

HighlandsHighlands

Temperature drops as Temperature drops as altitude increases altitude increases mountain region can mountain region can contain many contain many climates.climates.

Mountain can have a Mountain can have a year round covering year round covering of ice and snow at of ice and snow at their peakstheir peaks

Ex. Rocky MountainsEx. Rocky Mountains