1. 7.20 Describing Climate ONScience 10
Quantitative Graphs and Comparative Zone Systems
Climatographs, Climate Zones, Ecoregions, Bioclimatic Profiles
Table of contents

2. Climatographs Climatographs
Provide a quantitative breakdown of temperature and precipitation
Shows fluctuation seasonally
We will complete a graphing activity using the data in the excel document “Climate Data”

3. Constructing Climatographs
the letters along the bottom of the graphs identify the months of the year starting with "J" for January
plot the dot in the middle of the bar for all months then join with a smooth curving line to indicate the temperature conditions (the scale is given at the left in Celcius)
Convention: when using colour this line is usually 'red'
twelve vertical bars which indicate the average monthly amount of precipitation. Use the millimetre (mm) scale to the right to measure the amounts-
Convention: when using colour the bars are usually coloured in 'blue'

4. Climate Zones Russian Scientist Vladimir Köppen
In 1884, he published the first
version of his map of climatic zones
in which the seasonal temperature ranges
were plotted.
Köppen’s work was published as the Köppen climate classification system around 1900, and was modified several times until 1936.
The Köppen system of classification is based on
temperature
precipitation
plant communities
Several other scientists have added to Köppen's work and have “cloned” his system, i.e.: Trewartha climate classification

5. Köppen Classification System
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6. Köppen Climate Zones
The Köppen system recognizes five major climatic types; each type is designated by a capital letter.
A - Tropical Moist Climates: all months have average temperatures above 18° Celsius.
B - Dry Climates: with deficient precipitation during most of the year.
Two “B” subgroups, S - semiarid or steppe, and W - arid or desert
C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters.
D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters.
E - Polar Climates: with extremely cold winters and summers.
Two subgroups, T – tundra, and E - icecap.
Canada has no type A regions
Note – The Trewartha climate classification scheme has a Group H – Highland. This is often confused with being part of the Köppen system.

7. Köppen Climate Zones
Further subgroups are designated by a second, lower case letter which distinguish specific seasonal characteristics of temperature and precipitation.
f - Moist with adequate precipitation in all months and no dry season. This letter usually accompanies the A, C, and D climates.
m - Rainforest climate in spite of short, dry season in monsoon type cycle. This letter only applies to A climates.
s - There is a dry season in the summer of the respective hemisphere (high-sun season).
w - There is a dry season in the winter of the respective hemisphere (low-sun season).
To further denote variations in climate, a third letter was added to the code.
a - Hot summers where the warmest month is 22°C or greater. These can be found in C and D climates.
b - Warm summer with the warmest month below 22°C. These can also be found in C and D climates.
c - Cool, short summers with less than four months over 10°C in the C and D climates.
d - Very cold winters with the coldest month below -38°C (-36°F) in the D climate only.
h - Dry-hot with a mean annual temperature over 18°C in B climates only.
k - Dry-cold with a mean annual temperature under 18°C in B climates only.

8. Köppen’s Climatic Map of Canada Source: Government of Canada, Natural Resources CanadaET EF
Cfb
Dfc
Dfb
Csb
This information is taken from the Government of Canada – Natural Resources Canada:
Description
The map on this plate shows the division of Canada into climatic regions according to the classification of the climates of the world developed by W. Köppen. Köppen first divided the world into five major divisions to which he assigned the letters A, B, C, D, and E. The letters represent the range of divisions from tropical climate (A) to polar climate (E). There are no A climates in Canada. The descriptions of the four remaining major divisions are given in the map legend. Köppen then divided the large divisions into a number of climatic types in accordance with temperature differences and variations in the amounts and distribution of precipitation, on the basis of which he added certain letters to the initial letter denoting the major division. The definitions of the additional letters which apply in Canada are also given when they first appear in the map legend. Thus 'b' is defined under 'Csb' and the definition is, therefore, not repeated under 'Cfb', 'Dfb' or 'Dsb'. For this map, the temperature and precipitation criteria established by Köppen have been applied to Canadian data for a standard thirty year period.
Dfa
BSk

9. Other Classifications
Several other classification systems exist for climate. These include classification by:
Ecoregions
Bioclimates

10. Ecoregions
Another way to classify a climate zone. Ecoregions focus on the ecology of a region. This classification looks at:
Landforms
Soil
Plants
Animals
Climate
There are 867 global Ecoregions
Complete classifications is done by:
Zones
Provinces
Regions
Districts

11. Example of Classification
Ecozone 15
top of hierarchy- sub-continental scale. Large and generalized ecological units characterized by interactive and adjusting abiotic and biotic factors.
Ecoprovince 53
characterized by structural or surface forms, faunal realms, and vegetation, hydrology, soil, and macro climate.
eg, Newfoundland ecoprovince (no. 6.4) is one of 6 ecoprovinces in Boreal Shield Ecozone.
Ecoregion 194
characterized by regional factors, including climate, physiography, vegetation, soil, water, and fauna.
eg, Maritime Barrens ecoregion (no. 114) is one of 9 ecoregions in Newfoundland ecoprovince. 
Ecodistrict 1021
characterized by assemblages of relief, landforms, geology, soil, vegetation, water bodies and fauna.
eg, the Jeddore Lake ecodistrict (no. 473) is one of 5 in Maritime Barrens ecoregion.
Information from “A national Ecological Framework for Canada”
Source:

12. Terrestrial Ecoregions of Canada
Source:

13. 15 broad domains within Canada presents an almost manageable number of zones
Similar map at
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14. Bioclimate Profiles
Series of Graphs which describe only temperature and moisture conditions for a location
Describe climate conditions and predict possible changes over next years.
Source:

15. From - http://www.dbs-sar.com/images/World_ecoregion.bmp
A map of the world shows the dizzying 867 Different Ecoregions 15
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16. From -http://assets.panda.org/img/ecoregions_232886.jpg
The one overall Koppen zone is divided into 11 distinct Provinces using the Eco-regions Classification as it takes into account differences in profiles of waters off the coast and even identifies distinct oceanic climates compared to the “Land Only” Koppen system
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17. Ontario provides 4 distinct Domains that can be
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18. Methods of describing Climate
Ecoregions
Also consider landforms, plants, soil type and animals
867 global Ecoregions
SUBDIVIDED
Zones,
Provinces,
Regions
Districts
While detailed and offering a greater chance for describing distinct zones, this system is far too cumbersome for simple activities as it requires massive quantities of data and an analysis of multiple factors at the same time.
Source:

19. Methods of describing Climate
Bioclimatic Profiles
Describe only climatic Conditions
Describe climate conditions and predict possible changes over next years
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