1. World Geography Chapter 3
Outline and Notes

2. Section 2 Climate Factors Affecting Climate Wind Currents
Distribute the sun’s heat from one part of the world to another
Convection – Hot air rises and cooler air masses move in underneath
Winds blow straight but since the earth is rotating they appear to be bending

3. Climate Ocean Currents Rivers flowing through the ocean
Warm water flows away from the equator and cold water flows back towards the equator
Affect temperature of an area and also the amount of precipitation received

4. Climate Zones of Latitude Elevation Topography
Tropical, Temperate, Polar
Elevation
Topography
Affects weather patterns

5. Defining a Climate Region
Two significant factors in defining a climate region
Temperature
Precipitation
Tropical
Tropical Wet
Little variation in temperature – always hot, average temp. 80*F
Rainfall is around 80 inches a year, raining almost daily
Tropical Wet and Dry
Has a rainy season in the summer and a dry season in the winter
Cooler in the dry season and warmer in the wet season

6. Types of Climates Deserts Semiarid Desert
Receives about 16 inches of precipitation per year
Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold
Desert
Less than 10 inches of precipitation per year
Hot during the day and cold at night

7. Types of Climates Mid-Latitudes Mediterranean Marine West Coast
Summers are dry and hot, and its winters cool and rainy
Marine West Coast
Located close to the ocean, warm
Cloudy, Foggy and Damp
Humid Subtropical
Summer heat and humidity
Found on the east coast of continents (subject to hurricanes late summer)
Humid Continental
Arctic air masses and tropical air masses frequently collide
Usually toward the middle of these mid-latitude continents

8. Types of Climates Polar Climate Regions Subarctic Tundra Ice Cap
Evergreen forests cover the region
Summers are short and cool, Winters are very cold
Tundra
Flat, treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean
Almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere
Precipitation is less than 15 inches a year
Permafrost – subsoil is constantly frozen
Ice Cap
Snow, Ice and permanently freezing temperatures characterize the region
Highland
Variable mountain climate region

9. Climate Region Map
World Climate Regions