22.2 Climate ZonesChapter 22
March 9th, 2015
Climate Zone TypesTropical
Middle Latitude
Polar
** Because precipitation in each zone varies… There is MORE THAN ONE CLIMATE IN EACH ZONE!!
Tropical Know for high temps
Located in equatorial regions
Rain Forest Central Africa, South America (Amazon), Central
America, SE Asia) Humid/warm Annual rainfall 200 cm
Desert largest belt across N. Africa and SW Asia
Very little precip. Hot days/cold nightsAnnual rainfall < 25 cm.
Tropical Cont.Savanna
large open grassland/drought resistant shrubsSmall temp rangeAlternating wet/dry periods. Annual rainfall at 50 cm.
Rain Forest
SavannaDEsert
Mid Latitude Winter Average Maximum Temps < 18°C
Summer Average Minimum Temps >10°C
Marine West deciduous trees, dense forests, mild summer/winter
Frequent rainfallSmall temp range
Steppe drought resistant veg, cold/dry winter-warm/wet
summer Annual precip < 40 cmLarge temp range
Mid Latitude Cont. Humid Continental
wide variety veg, evergreens, variable weather Annual precip > 75 cmLarge temp range
Humid Subtropicalbroadleaf and evergreen trees/high humidity
Annual precip ~ 75-165 cm. Large temp range
Mediterranean broadleaf and evergreen trees, long/dry summer &
mild/wet winterAnnual precip ~ 40 cm.Small temp range
Steppe
Marine West Humid
Continental
Mediterranean
Polar Average Temps at or below freezing!
Subarctic evergreen trees, short/cool summers, long/cold winters
Annual precip 25-50 cm.Largest annual temp range
Tundra treeless plains/9 months of below freezing
Annual precip 25 cm.Avg temp below 4oC
Polar Icecap little/no life, temp below freezing year-round, high winds
Avg temp below freezingLow annual precip
Local Climate Microclimate – Climate of a SMALL area
EX: Rural, Urban, Suburban Influenced by – elevation, proximity to water, human built
structures
Heat Island – occurs in citiesBuilding absorb & radiate heat more than vegetation
Highland Climates Elevation increases – temperatures
decrease
Highland Climates – mountainous regionsLarge variations in temps & precipitation over
short distances
Large Bodies of WaterAffect climate
Due to the high specific heat of water
Water holds heat energy in
Therefore, precipitation nearby increases
