Weather and Climate Chapter 15
easily obtained data and unambiguous criteria
2 reasons why we use the Koppen classification system
severe winters, rapid changes in weather
2 typical characteristics of D climates
average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, seasonal distribution of precipitation
3 factors determined by the Koppen classification system that establish the boundary between dry and humid climates:
slope orientation, exposure, winds and orographic effects
4 factors that play a role in controlling the climate of highlands
A, C, D, E
4 of the five/six principal climate groups that are determined by temperature
Latitude, land and water, geographic position and prevailing winds, mountains and highlands, ocean currents, pressure and wind systems
6 controls of climate
Humid tropical
A classification
small, year-round
Af and Am climates exhibit constant __ temperature ranges and rainfall is most common when?
wet/dry climate, seasonal shift of wind patterns
Am and Aw climates are differ from the Af climate because they have what? why does this type of climate occur?
Dry/Arid
B classification
semiarid or steppe
BS climate
arid or desert
BW climate
Subtropical
C classification
Cfb
Marine west coast climate; mild winters, cool summers and ample rainfall throughout the year
Cfa
Nola's climate; most commonly found on the eastern sides of continents and dominate the southeastern US with considerable variation in the high level of precipitation
monsoon
The Aw designation is characterized by what weather phenomenon?
Aw
The savanna is a part of this climate classification; it is tropical wet and dry; more pronounced seasonal fluctuations in humidity and more persistent summertime cloudiness
Csa, Csb
Two types of mediterranean (dry-summer subtropical) climate; the first one is warmer (with higher annual temperature ranges) and the second is cooler (restricted to coastal areas);
dry climate
defined zone where yearly precipitation is less than the potential water loss by evaporation
Humid middle-latitude, severe winters
description of the subpolar (D) classification
Humid middle-latitude, mild winters
description of the subtropical (C) classification
30%
dry climates cover what percent of the Earth's surface, more than any other climate group?
dry rain shadow
due to the effect of orographic rainfall on the windward side of a mountain, what occurs on the leeward side?
greater, larger
greater or smaller seasonal fluctuations in temperature as you move poleward? resulting in a larger or smaller annual temperature range?
Dfa
humid continental climate; land controlled relatively severe winter and summer; central and Easter US
water
land or water has a higher heat-capacity and therefore heats and cools more slowly?
windward
moderating influence of water is much more pronounced along which side of a continent?
taiga
other name for Dfc, Dfd (subarctic) climate zone, dominated by a long and bitterly cold winter with little precipitation
humid
polar climates are classified as ____ with meager precipitation
warmer, winter
poleward-moving ocean currents cause air temperatures to be warmer or cooler than would be expected for their latitudes? it is especially pronounced in which season creating a stabilizing effect?
west coast
sub-tropical deserts that appear on which coast are affected by cold ocean currents and therefore reduced temperatures?
continental climates
tend to be more extreme with a greater range of annual temperature
Atacama Desert in Chile
the driest desert on Earth is named what and where is it located?
torrid, temperate, frigid
the first attempt at climate classification by the ancient Greeks divided the world into three zones:
winter
the highest temperature gradient in the US is in what season?
precipitation
the primary factor that distinguishes the Aw climate from Af and Am
fluctuations in the amount of solar radiation at Earth's surface
the single greatest cause of temperature differences
Koppen classification
the system we use now to classify climate
misleading yearly rainfall averagers
what is the most confusing part of the classification of B climates?
low-latitude deserts in the interiors of continents
area that has the greatest daily temperature ranges on Earth
highland climate
characterized by a great diversity of climatic conditions over small areas, most known by the decrease in temperature with higher altitudes
marine climates
considered relatively mild for their latitude because the moderating effect of water produces summers that are warm and winters that are cool
10%
wet tropics cover what percent of the Earth's surface?
orographic rainfall
what do mountains and highlands trigger?
tropical rain forests
what ecosystem is present in the Af climate?
daily
what is greater in the A climates: daily temperature variations or seasonal differences?
Subpolar
D classification
Polar
E classification
distribution of natural vegetation
What Koppen believed to be the best expression of overall climate
Aw
this is the climate where monsoons occur, characterized by alternating periods of rainfall and dryness
ET, EF
tundra climate, ice cap climate
B, H
two of the principal climate groups that are able to occur anywhere on the planet. The first is determined by precipitation and the second is determined by altitude
latitude
variations in the receipt of solar energy are largely a function of what?
h, k
warmer BW/BS climate, cooler BW/BS climate