Meteorology: World Climates

In a comparison of climates of coastal and continental interior regions at the same latitude, which one would likely have: (i) a higher monthly average temperature in summer? (ii) higher monthly average temperature in winter? (iii) the largest annual temperature range?

-(i)-A continental interior region would have a higher average temperature in the summer. -(ii)-A costal region would have a higher average temperature in the winter. -(iii)-The continental interior range would have a higher annual temperature range.

In a comparison of climates of east coast and west coast midlatitude climate regions at the same latitude, which one would likely have: (i) a lower monthly average temperature in summer? (ii) lower monthly average temperature in winter? (iii) the largest annual temperature range?

-(i)-The west coast will have lower summer temperatures. -(ii)-The east coast will have lower winter temperatures. -(iii)-The east coast will experience the greatest range.

Explain how these two major controls influence the climate during winter in central Pennsylvania. How do they govern the climate in central PA during the summer?

-As central Pennsylvania falls under the Midlatitude Climate group it is dominated by circumpolar vortex and a polar front. This causes central Pa to experience bouts of snow and consistently low temperatures in the winter. -Conversely, the circumpolar vortex and polar front do not extend down to central Pa during the summer allowing the area to be controlled by tropical air masses moving poleward.

What are the three climate type groups? Which air masses dominate in each of the groups?

-Low-Latitude Climates-Continental tropical and maritime tropical. -Midlatitude Climates-Tropical air masses moving poleward and polar air masses moving equatorward are in contact. -High-Latitude Climates-Dominated by polar and arctic (including antarctic) air masses.

What air masses dominate in wet equatorial climates? Describe the seasonal distribution of temperature and precipitation in this climate region?

-Maritime Tropical -There is a large amount of precipitation every month, and the annual total often exceeds 2500 mm. But there is a seasonal rainfall pattern, with heavier rain when the ITCZ migrates into the region. Temperatures are uniform throughout the year, with mean monthly and mean annual temperatures close to 27°C.

What air masses are associated with each of the seasons?

-Moist maritime tropical (mT) air masses dominate at high Sun. -Dry continental tropical (cT) air masses prevail at low Sun.

Describe the annual temperature range in moist continental climate regions. Explain why these regions get generally receive ample precipitation in the summer and winter seasons.

-Seasonal temperature contrasts are strong, and day-to-day weather is highly variable. -There is ample precipitation throughout the year, which increases in summer when maritime tropical (mT) air masses invade. Cold winters are dominated by continental polar (cP) and occasional continental arctic (cA) air masses from subarctic source regions.

What is it about air flow associated with the Hadley Cell circulation in these areas that makes dry-tropical climate so dry all year round? What air mass dominates the climate of these regions?

-The dry tropical climate is found in the center and eastsides of subtropical high-pressure cells. Air descends and warms adiabatically, inhibiting condensation. -Continental tropical (cT) air masses.

Why are the ice sheets in the center of Antarctic and Greenland so thick? Why are the coastal areas around these land masses some of the stormiest areas on Earth?

-The thickness of ice sheets at the center of Antarctica and Greenland is due to the increased precipitation that freezes and accumulates on the tops of these ice sheets. The temperatures in these areas never drop below freezing allowing the accumulated precipitation to create very thick ice sheets. -These areas are some of the stormiest places on Earth because of the clashing between Maritime Polar air around these areas and the very cold air coming off of the ice sheets. Due to the year round presence of both of these air masses, there are frequent storms throughout the year.

Describe the precipitation regime in wet-dry tropical climate regions. What features of the Hadley Cell circulation control the seasonal distribution of rainfall?

-The wet-dry tropical climate has a very dry season at low Sun and a very wet season at high Sun. -The ITCZ.

Describe the moist subtropical climate's seasonal temperature regimes. Why do they receive ample precipitation in both summer and winter?

-There is abundant rainfall in the summer, masses much more rainfall in the summer than in the winter. Summer temperatures are warm, with persistent high humidity. There is also plenty of winter precipitation. -Convective and tropical cyclones in summer, midlatitude cyclones in winter.

Highland regions tend to be cooler than regions in neighboring lowlands. Why are they cooler? Why are they wetter?

-They tend to be cool to cold because air temperatures in the atmosphere normally decrease with altitude. -They are also usually moist, getting wetter at higher locations as orographic precipitation increases.

Describe the annual precipitation total. In which season is precipitation most abundant?

-Total annual precipitation is small. -Increased precipitation beginning in July is explained by the melting of the sea-ice cover and a warming of ocean water temperatures.

How are descriptions of climate and weather different?

-Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere at a given time and location. It is constantly changing, often quite rapidly. -Climate is the aggregate of weather conditions. It is based on observations that have been accumulated over many decades.

What is the primary direction that traveling cyclones and associated fronts move across the regions occupied by the midlatitude climate group? What two forces combine to govern the direction of the predominant winds in the middle latitudes?

-West to east. -The pressure gradient and the Coriolis force.

Why are summers of Mediterranean climate regions so dry? Why is there ample precipitation during winter in Mediterranean climate regions?

-When the subtropical high-pressure cells move poleward in summer, they enter the Mediterranean climate region. Dry continental tropical (cT) and stable maritime tropical (mTs) air masses then dominate, producing the dry summer season. -In winter, the moist mP air mass invades with cyclonic storms and generates ample rainfall.

How does clearing the tropical forest vegetation impact (i) the amount of nutrients in the ecosystem and (ii) the quantity of water vapor that enters the atmosphere?

Clearing the forests not only removes plant nutrients, reduces evapotranspiration and carbon uptake by plants but also accelerates erosion.

Why is rainfall in the marine west-coast climate region in North America so much larger than in Europe?

In Europe, the Alps run west to east and thus do not create an orographic barrier that the mP air masses must cross.

What are the two major controls over these regimes at the global scale?

Latitude which governs the amount and seasonal variation on Earth of incoming energy from the Sun.

Which group is influenced by both the ITCZ and STHP cells?

Low-Latitude Climates

Explain why the annual temperature range in Marine west-coast climate regions is moderate.

Marine west-coast climate regions are in the belt of the westerly winds and thus dominated by mP air masses that blow off the Oceans. The oceans moderate their temperatures both in winter and summer. For this reason, the annual temperature range is smaller in the Marine west-coast climate regions than further inland.

Which air masses dominate the climate of this group of climates?

Maritime tropical (mT) air masses and maritime polar (mP) and continental polar (cP).

Define climate. What are the most important variables considered in a climate classification?

Mean monthly values of air temperature and precipitation. -Temperature and precipitation.

The climate of which of these groups is strongly influenced by the polar front?

Midlatitude Climates

About 1 million acres of tropical forest are cleared each year. How does the abundant precipitation characteristic of these regions impact the nutrients in the soils?

Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are contained in the vegetation and enter the soil when the vegetation dies and decomposes. The heavy rainfall moves most of the nutrients in the soil that are not taken up quickly by the vegetation downward deep into the ground.

Why do these regions receive ample precipitation year-round?

Polar front cyclones track through these regions all year round bringing ample precipitation. The mountains that parallel the west coast of North America create orographic lifting which enhances rainfall.

Although the annual precipitation is relatively small, why do boreal forest climate regions receive more precipitation in summer than winter?

Precipitation increases substantially in summer, when mP air masses penetrate the continent with traveling cyclones.

How does the seasonal cycle of temperature differ from that found in wet tropical climate regions?

The annual temperature range is larger in wet-dry tropical climate regions than in wet equatorial climate regions that are closer to the equator.

Why is the area occupied by midlatitude climate regions in the Southern Hemisphere so small?

The area is so small that it is dominated by a great southern ocean.

Explain the distinguishing characteristic of the annual range of temperature in Boreal forest climate regions.

The boreal forest climate is a continental climate with long, bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers. The climate region heats and cools rapidly and thus the annual range of temperature is greater than that of any other climate.

What is the feature of the Hadley Cell circulation that brings abundant precipitation to wet equatorial climate regions?

The wet equatorial climate is controlled by the ITCZ.

How do the temperature regimes of dry tropical climate regions found in the interior of continents differ from those of dry tropical climate regions along west coasts of continents?

West coast regions are strongly influenced by cold ocean currents and the upwelling of deep, cold water, just off shore. The cool water moderates coastal zone temperatures, reducing the seasonality of the temperature cycle.

What happens to the bare soil when it is exposed to the strong solar radiation characteristic of this region?

When baked by the sun, tropical soils harden into a brick like consistency.

Describe the annual temperature range in the tundra climate region.

Winters are long and severe. There is a very short mild season, but many climatologists do not recognize this as a true summer.