Chapter 26 Climate

Chapter 26 The equator receives about 12 hours of sunlight each day. The polar region has a very large annual temperature range and a very small daily temperature range. A region that receives 8 hours of sunlight in December and 16 hours of light in June is located at about 45o North Latitude

Chapter 26 When average daily temperatures are plotted on a map, the boundaries of the zones formed coincide roughly with lines of latitude At the equator, the sun’s rays strike the earth’s surface at an angle of about 90o Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of a substance by 1o Celsius.

Chapter 26 A chinook is a wind that flows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. A foehn is a warm, dry wind that flows down the Alps. When a moving air mass encounters a mountain range the moisture content decreases.

Chapter 26 Maritime tropical air masses develop close to the equator. Savanna climates typically have open areas of coarse grasses. The jungles of southern Asia are located in a rain forest climate.

Chapter 26 Tropical savanna climates have wet summers and dry winters. Much of the interior of Australia has a tropical desert climate. The tundra climate has a lower yearly temperature range than the subarctic climate because the tundra is closer to the ocean.

Chapter 26 The largest yearly temperature range is usually found in the subarctic climate. The climate in which the vegetation consists of lichen, mosses, and small flowering plants is called tundra Cone-bearing trees are characteristic vegetation of subarctic climates.

Chapter 26 Humid subtropical climate receives the greatest average amount of yearly rainfall. Marine west-coast climate has dense forests of mixed broad-leaf and needle-leaf trees. Humid subtropical climate is characterized by mild winters and warm, humid summers.

Chapter 26 A Mediterranean climate is characterized by winters that are mild and wet. Forests can modify local climate by reducing wind speed. Rural areas usually have a lower average temperature than cities partly because of more transpiration by vegetation.