1. 18-2 Climate Regions
Scientists classify climates according to 2 major factors:
*temperature
*precipitation
There are 5 major climate regions: tropical rainy, dry, temperate marine, temperate continental, and polar
Example of a Climate Regions Map
images.encarta.msn.com/.../maps/map/T373599A.gif

2. 18-2 Climate Regions: Tropical Rainy Climates
*Tropical Wet
*Tropical Wet-and-Dry
Tropical wet climate has many rainy days with year-round heat and heavy rainfall. Found in equatorial lowlands
*Rain forests often grow in this climate. Rain forests are forests in which plenty of rain falls year-round
* Windward side of Hawaiian island Kauai is only area in United States
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3. 18-2 Climate Regions: Tropical Rainy Climates
Tropical Wet-and-Dry climates get less rain than tropical wet climates and have distinct dry and rainy seasons
* Has savannas which are tropical grasslands
*Southern tip of Florida is example
Background photo from:

4. 18-2 Climate Regions: Dry Climates
DRY CLIMATES exist where the amount of precipitation is less than the amount of water that could evaporate
*Arid
*Semiarid
Arid regions, or deserts, get less than 25 centimeters of rain each year
* only specialized plants like cactus can survive
* Parts of Southern California and southwestern United States have arid climates

5. 18-2 Climate Regions: Dry Climates
Semiarid areas are usually located on the edges of deserts and often get enough rainfall for short grasses and low bushes to grow
* A steppe is a prairie or grassland found in the semiarid climate region
* The Great Plains of the United States are a semiarid region.

6. 18-2 Climate Regions: Temperate Marine Climates
TEMPERATE MARINE CLIMATES are humid and have mild winters and are located on the coasts of continents in the temperate zones
*Marine West Coast
*Mediterranean
*Humid Subtropical
Marine West Coast is the coolest temperate marine climate
* found on west coasts north of 40° North and south of 40° South
*Humid ocean air brings cool, rainy summers and mild, rainy winters. Thick forests of tall trees are here.
* Northwestern U.S. such as Washington state, Oregon, and northern California

7. 18-2 Climate Regions: Temperate Marine Climates
Mediterranean is a coastal climate that is drier and warmer than west coast marine.
*Climate is mild with “two seasons”
winter has cool, rainy weather, summer is warmer with little rain.
*Grasses and dense shrubs and small trees
*Southern coast of California
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8. 18-2 Climate Regions: Temperate Marine Climates
Humid Subtropical has the warmest temperate marine climate, it is wet and warm but not constantly hot like tropics
* Summers are hot with more rain than in winter
*Winters are cool to mild, with more rain than snow
*Southeastern U.S.

9. Image from- images.encarta.msn.com/.../maps/map/T373599A.gif

10. 18-2 Climate Regions: Temperate Continental Climates
TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL CLIMATES are found in Northern Hemisphere are not influenced much by oceans, they tend to have extremes of temperature
*Humid Continental
*Subarctic

11. 18-2 Climate Regions: Temperate Continental Climates
Humid Continental climates have constantly changing weather due to shifting tropical and polar air masses
*moderate amounts of rain in summer with smaller amounts of rain or snow in winter
*Northeastern and Midwest U.S. from New York to Kansas and states to the north
Subarctic climates lie north of humid continental
* Short, cool summers and long, bitterly cold winters
* Climates of Russia, Canada, and Alaska

12. 18-2 Climate Regions: Polar Climates
POLAR CLIMATE is the coldest climate region, only in far north and south, near North and South poles
*Ice Cap
*Tundra
Ice Cap climates have average temperatures always below freezing
*covered in ice and snow
*Greenland and Antarctica
Background from-

13. 18-2 Climate Regions: Polar Climates
18-2 Climate Regions: Polar Climates
Tundra climates have short, cool summers with bitterly cold winters
*Permafrost is permanently frozen soil, doesn’t allow water to drain well so it is wet and boggy in the summer
*Northern Alaska, Canada, and Russia
HIGHLANDS CLIMATE REGION are high areas that are colder than the areas that surround them
*temperature falls as altitude increases, climbing 1,000 meters up is like traveling 1,200 kilometers north