©CSCOPE 2009 Climate Regions

©CSCOPE 2009 Weather v. Climate ► Climate is the temperature and precipitation in an area over a long period of time. ► Weather is the current temperature and precipitation in an area.

©CSCOPE 2009 Latitude, latitude, latitude ► Several factors influence climate: elevation, ocean currents, size of land mass, winds… ► However, latitude is the most influential factor that affect climate type. ► There are three latitude zones:  Low Latitude- between 23 ½° N and 23 ½ ° S  Mid Latitude- between 23 ½ °N and 66 ° N AND 23 ½ ° S and 66 ° S 23 ½ ° S and 66 ° S  High Latitude- Poles; above 66 ° N AND below 66 ° S below 66 ° S

©CSCOPE 2009 Important Lines of Latitude 66° N 23 1/2 ° N 0 ° 23 1/2 ° S 66° S Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle

©CSCOPE 2009 Low Latitude Climates Latitude RangeWorld LocationVegetation Seasons/Rain fall Tropical rainforest 10*S-25*N Amazon Rainforest Southeast Asia Papua New Guinea Dense, Heavy, Rich Heavy Rainfall, no difference in seasons Savanna 15° to 25° N and S India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, southern Africa, South America, north coast of Australia Grasses, short trees Warm all year round Desert 18*-28* N and S Centered around the Tropics Sahara in Africa Gobi in Asia Atacama in South America Arizona Cacti, Little to none Warm or cold Little to no rainfall

©CSCOPE 2009 Mid-Latitude Climates Latitude Range World LocationVegetationSeasons/ Rainfall Grasslands/ Steppe Central areas of continents between 35° and 50° N Western North America (Great Plains); Central South America, Central Africa (Sahel) (Patagonia) Eurasian interior (Kazakhstan) Grassland, few trees Low precipitation year round, hot summers, cold winters Humid subtropical Southeast coast of continents between 20° and 40° N and S Southeastern North America, Southeastern Asia, Southeastern Australia Coniferous/Decidu ous (Mixed) Forests and grassland Warm, humid summer, and mild winters precipitation year round Mediterranean 30° to 50° N and S The Mediterranean basin, west coasts of California, central Chile, South Africa, western/southern Australia Shrubs, grasses, and mixed trees (Chaparral) Long, hot, dry summers, and mild, rainy winters

©CSCOPE 2009 Mid-Latitude Climates Latitude Range World LocationVegetationSeasons/ Rainfall Humid Continental 30 to 55 N and S, to 60 N in Europe North central North America; north central Asia (China); Korea; Japan; central and eastern Europe Mixed coniferous- ( Coniferous- keep leaves all year long, usually needle like) and deciduous forest Warm summer cold winters, moderate rainfall throughout the year Marine-West Coast 30 to 60 N and S West coast of N. America, west coast of southern Chile, and northwestern Europe Mixed coniferous and deciduous forests- (loose there leaves during a season, Usually fall.) Cool summers, mild winters, high rainfall year round

©CSCOPE 2009 High Latitude Climates Latitude RangeWorld LocationVegetation Seasons/Rainfall Sub arctic 50-60*N Russia, Alaska, Northern Canada Little to none. Permafrost Soil Extremely Cold winter is short and cool summer Arctic 60-70*N Northern North America Eurasia Short grasses, mosses, tundra Extremely cold and dry all year long

©CSCOPE 2009 Other Climates Latitude Range World LocationVegetationSeasons/Rainfall Highland Found all Over Mountain Ranges: Himalayas, Rockies, Andes, Alps, ETC Varies with elevation and location on mountain. Leeward- Drier with less vegetation. Windward- lots of rain and vegetation. Leeward is dry.

©CSCOPE 2009 Terms to Know ► Low Latitude ► Mid Latitude ► High Latitude ► Coniferous ► Deciduous ► Mixed Forest ► Chaparral