Do Now

At your table, share some good things that have happened this week.

You do not need to write this down.Make sure you have turned everything in

(syllabus, 5 themes photos, paragraph, quiz corrections).

SEPTEMBER 7, 2012

Climate and Vegetation Regions

The Köppen Climate Classification

3 letter system First letter = temperature Second letter = precipitation Third letter = finer shades of temperature

Csa = Mediterranean C = middle latitude temperature s = summer dry a = hot summers (as opposed to warm)

The Köppen Climate Classification

A= Tropical (equatorial regions)B= Deserts (arid, semiarid)C= Mesothermal (mild winter)D= Microthermal (cold winter)E= Polar (always cold)H= Highland (mountains, plateaus)

Climate Regions

Vegetation Regions

Tropical Humid Climates (A)

36% of Earth’s total surfaceConsistently warmSubcategories based on rainfall

Tropical rainforest Tropical monsoon Tropical savanna

Climate: Tropical Rainforest

High rainfall all yearSurrounds Equator

Vegetation: Tropical Rainforest

Region: surrounds EquatorVegetation: tall trees, ferns, vines

Highest density of plant species

Animals: insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds More animal species than all other biomes combined

Among most threatened biomes

Climate: Savanna

Surround tropical rainforestsRainfall: 35-70”/yearDesertification

Vegetation: Savanna

Region: around tropical rainforestsVegetation: grasses, scattered trees and

shrubsAnimals: large grazing animals and predators

Dry Arid / Semiarid Climates (B)

33% of Earth’s total surfaceWater deficitsSubcategories

Desert Steppe

Climate: Desert

Wide range in temperature Hot at low latitudes Variation at high latitudes

Variation in rainfall < 10 inches/year

Desertification

Vegetation: Desert

Vegetation: Cacti, small flowers, shrubsAnimals: birds, small predators, reptiles

Climate: Steppe

More precipitation than desertsNarrower range in temperaturesGrasslandsTransitions between deserts and humid

climates

Vegetation: Grasslands

Region: Central North America, parts of Africa, Australia, SE South America (Pampas)

Best soil on EarthVegetation: grasses, some trees and bushesAnimals: large grazing animals, burrowing

animals, a few predators

Mesothermal Climates (C)

20 % of Earth’s surface“Middle temperatures”True seasonsSubcategories based on precipitation

Humid subtropical Marine west coast Mediterranean

Climate: Humid Subtropical

Hot summerCold spellsYear-round precipitation

Vegetation: Temperate Forest (Deciduous)

Region: Western Europe, East Asia, Eastern U.S.

Good soil for agricultureBroad leafed deciduous trees: oaks, hickories,

maplesAnimals hibernate and migrate

Climate: Mediterranean

Surrounds Mediterranean SeaDry summersParts of Australia, South Africa, and Chile

Vegetation: Mediterranean

Region: west coast and central California, SW. Australia, tip of South Africa, West Peru, Chile, Mediterranean

Vegetation: grassland, scattered trees, shrubsValuable for agricultureAt risk for fires, erosion, and desertification

Microthermal Climates (D)

Almost entirely in the Northern HemisphereHumid continental

Climate: Humid Continental

Long, cold wintersModerate precipitationLarge temperature range

Vegetation: Coniferous Forest

Region: northern parts of North America, Europe, Asia, South America, New Zealand, southern Australia

Vegetation: coniferous trees (needle-leaved)Animals: large herbivores, predatorsProblems: acid rain, logging, oil drilling

Polar Climates (E)

< 50°F all yearHigh windsSurround North and South PolesSubcategories

Tundra Ice caps

Climate: Tundra

Very low precipitation32-50°F

Vegetation: TundraRegion: North of the coniferous forest,

high latitudes of northern hemisphere in a belt around the Arctic Ocean, near the coast

PermafrostVegetation: mosses, low grasses, small

plantsAnimals: small burrowing, migratory,

some predators

Climate: Ice Caps

< 32°FVery little precipitationNorth and South Poles

Highland Climates (H)

Lower temperaturesMore moistureHigh winds