Exam 3
Where are the tropical (A) climates located?
15° to 25° of latitude.
Describe altitudinal donation. How does it affect vegetation?
A variety of environmental factors determines the boundaries of the altitudinal zones found on mountains including temp, humidity, solar radiation and parent material. This phenomenon affects not only climate but biological and ecological niches Though highly, some generalizations exist
The six primary classifications
A, B, C, D, E, H
Define B climates
Climates extend from 20-35° N and S of the equator, the climates are not necessarily hot but very dry.
When does precip fall in the Cs climate? The Cw climate?
Cs: in the winter season Cf: in the summer during monsoon season
What makes the H classification so unique?
Deals with only elevation
Monsoon
Defined as wind
Köppen climate classification system
Developed by Wladimir Köppen, a system for classifying the world's climates on the basis of temperature and precipitation. Noticed that spruce trees grew in colder climates and palms grew in more tropical climates
What classification does Michigan fall under?
Dfb or Dfa
Monsoon Rainforest (Am) Climate
Dry season corresponds to winter season, annual rainfall is equal or greater than Af but precip falls mostly in months 7 to 9. Winter = dry, summer = wet
Describe two subdivisions of the polar (E) climate-how are they differentiated?
ET= Tundra climate- soil is permanently frozen to depths of hundreds of meters, warmest month is between 0 and 50°F EF= ice cap climate- surface is permanently covered with snow and ice all 12 months experience below freezing temps.
BSk climate
Found near humid continental climates or Mediterranean climates in continental interior, tend to have warm to hot dry summers and cold winters with major temp swings
What differentiates the Cfa climate from fb/fc?
Hot and Muggy summers with frequent thunderstorms, no discernible dry season
Climate factors
Latitude and it's influence in solar radiation Air mass influences Location of global high and low pressure zones Heat exchange from ocean currents Altitude
Hot Desert (BWh)
Located 30° N and S, usually dry and sunny year round because of yhe descending air from H classification
Cold Desert (BWk)
Located in the rain shadow of tall mountains, they feature cold dry winters although snow can occur
where would you expect to find the micro thermal climates?
Located north of 40°N
Steppe (BS)
Midlatitude grassland characterized by short grasses & bunchgrasses. Receive more precip,
How can weather today be compared to the climatic normal?
Saying that we should see less than expected precip and warmer than normal temps because of an anticipated El Niño in the pacific.
What is the significance of the 100th meridian?
Seperates east and west by rainfall. The longitudinal line runs through N and S Dakota and Oklahoma.
Describe a climate normal
Simply the average of observed weather for a 30-year period
What are the tertiary classifications based upon?
Temperature: a, b, c, d, h, and k
Characteristics of A Climates
Temps that are greater than 18°C, Precip. Greater than 59 inches
What are the tertiary subdivisions of the A Climate Classification?
There are none
Savanna (Aw) Climate
This either has less annual rainfall or a more pronounced dry season than the monsoon rainforest
Af climates (Tropical Rainforest)
Tropical Wet climate, where precip occurs all year long. Usually found 10°N and S of the equator. Trail the fluctuations of the ITCZ.
Describe the subarctic climate type. What is unique about it?
Usually long and very cold winters and short cool to mild summers. Also known for extreme seasonal temp variations on the planet.
How to distinguish between W and S in the secondary subdivision
W is a true desert. S is a grassland
Where would you find these locations?
West Coast locations between 30° and 40° N and S latitudes.
What are the tertiary subdivisions?
a= warmest month above 71.6 °F b= warmest month above 71.6° F but with four months above 50°F c= warmest months above 71.6°F but with one to three months above 50°F d=same as c but coldest months below 36.4°F
Which one do we live in?
f secondary category
What are the secondary classifications based upon?
f, m, s, w and T, F based off precipitation except T and F cause of the polar regions
What are the tertiary subdivisions
h- temps are greater than 64.4° and k temps are less than 64.4°
What are the secondary subdivisions of the C climate?
s= dry season in the summer w= dry in the winter, wet in summer f= constant most, driest month has just over inch of precip
What are three secondary subdivisions of the micro thermal climate type?
s= dry summer w= dry winter f= no dry season
BSh climate
subtropical steppe. Have hot summers and warm semi cool winters with small precip
What is climate?
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
What is the dominant characteristic of the micro thermal climate?
All micro thermal climates are in northern hemisphere, it is the most extensive in terms of area (on land). They all have temp extremes throughout the year.
Name the two criteria that must be met in order to be classified as a C climate
And average temp below 64.4°F but above freezing in the coolest month. An average temp of not less than 50°F for at least one month of the year
How would you describe a BW climate
Arid, dry
Why is the highland climate unique?
Because of the elevation