World Geography Climates Climates of the world

Warm up List as many climates as you can think of.

Climate – Is the term for weather conditions at a particular location over a period of time

Climate

Wind Currents Convection – The transfer of heat in the atmosphere by upward motion of air

Ocean Currents Currents are like rivers flowing in the ocean, moving in circular patterns – Warm water flows away from the equator and cold water flows away from the poles to the equator

Tropical Wet Region has very little temperature variation. – Usually in the 80’s – Days are sunny to begin with but turn cloudy in the afternoon. – Average about 80 inches of rain a year. – Central and South America, Africa and Aisa

Tropical Wet and Dry This is called “wet and dry” because the subregion has a rainy season in summer and a dry season in winter. – Rainfall is less than in the tropical wet. – Next to tropical wet climates – Central and South America, Africa, and Asia

Semiarid Subregion does receive precipitation, just not very much – About 16 inches a year – Summers are hot – Winters are mild to cold and may get snow – This area is found on the 6 main continents

Desert Deserts are categorized according to the amount of rainfall, rather than landforms. – Can be hot or cold – Less than 10 inches of rain a year – Temperature drops at night because the air can not hold the heat

Mediterranean This land is named for the land around the Mediterranean Sea where it is located – It also exist elsewhere like the west coast of the U.S. – Hot and dry summer – Winters cool and rainy – Support a dense population

Marine West Coast Is located close to the ocean and is frequently cloudy, foggy and damp. – Winds of the ocean keep the temperature relatively constant. – Rain is spread evenly throughout the year – West Coast United States, Canada, and West Coast Europe

Humid Subtropics Long period of summer heat and humidity characterize the humid subtropics – Found on East Coast of Continents (southeast U.S. Coast and China) – Prone to hurricanes – Winters are mild, good for raising crops – Rice crops flourish in these tropics

Humid Continental A great variety in temperature and precipitation characterizes this climate – Found interior continents – Upper northern hemisphere continents – Can see all four seasons. – Get arctic air masses collide with tropic air masses.

Subarctic Evergreen forests called taiga cover the lands in the subarctic region – Big temperature variations from summer to winter – Cool summers – Cold and snowy winter – Below freezing temperatures 5 to 8 months of the year

Tundra The flat Treeless lands forming a ring around the Artic Ocean. – Very little precipitation falls here (less than 15 inches a year) – Northern Hemisphere – Permafrost- subsoil is frozen year round – Summer last for only a few weeks a year

Highlands Varies with latitude, elevation other topography and continental location – Weather can vary based on such factors as whether a slope faces north or south, or exposed to winds carrying moisture.