Volcanoes and Igneous Activity Earth
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Transcript Volcanoes and Igneous Activity Earth
Chapter 15: World Climates
The Atmosphere:
An Introduction to
Meteorology, 12th
Lutgens • Tarbuck
Lectures by:
Heather Gallacher,
Cleveland State University
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Climate Classification
Köppen classification:
This tool is based on mean monthly and annual
temperatures and precipitation.
Criteria are unambiguous, simple to apply, and
are realistic.
It recognizes five principal climate groups.
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Climate Classification
Köppen system:
A Humid tropical—all months have mean temperature
greater than 18°C.
B Dry—evaporation exceeds precipitation.
C Humid midlatitude, mild winters—mean temperature
of the coldest month is above −3°C and lower than 18°C.
D Humid midlatitude, severe winters—mean temperature
of the coldest month is less than −3°C, and the warmest
month is higher than 10°C.
E Polar—summer-less, mean temperature of the warmest
month is lower than 10°C.
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Climate Classification
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Climate Controls: A Summary
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Climate Controls: A Summary
Latitude:
Variations in the receipt of solar energy are largely a
function of latitude.
Land and Water:
Marine climates are considered mild.
Continental climates tend to be much more extreme.
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Climate Controls: A Summary
Geographic positioning and prevailing winds:
The windward sides of continents are likely to have
marine climates.
Leeward sides are likely to have continental climates.
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Climate Controls: A Summary
Mountains and highlands:
These topographic barriers trigger orographic
precipitation.
Ocean currents:
Cold currents cause aridity and fog.
Warm currents cause warmer air temperatures.
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Climate Controls: A Summary
Pressure and wind systems:
Latitudinal shifting of pressure belts is responsible for
seasonal precipitation.
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World Climates—An Overview
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The Wet Tropics (Af, Am)
The mean temperature is 25°C+.
They only cover about 10% of the Earth’s land area.
Total precipitation averages 200+ cm year.
It is wet all year.
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The Wet Tropics (Af, Am)
Temperature characteristics
Precipitation characteristics:
More than half of the days have rain.
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Tropical Wet and Dry (Aw)
Aw is often called a savanna climate.
The rain forest gives way to a tropical grassland.
It has distinct wet and dry seasons.
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Tropical Wet and Dry (Aw)
Temp characteristics:
The daily range exceeds the annual range (3–10°C).
Precipitation:
The area has wet summers and dry winters.
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Tropical Wet and Dry (Aw)
The monsoon:
Alternating periods of rainfall and dryness are associated
with the monsoon.
It typically refers to wind systems and their seasonal reversal.
High pressure over the oceans in summer results in
wet conditions.
High pressure over land in winter results in dry conditions.
The Cw variant
Cw climates are highland extensions of Aw.
Cw areas are midlatitude extensions of the monsoon
realm.
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The Dry Climates (B)
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The Dry Climates (B)
What is meant by “dry”?
Yearly precipitation is less than the potential water loss
by evaporation.
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The Dry Climates (B)
Subtropical desert (BWh) and steppe (BSh)
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The Dry Climates (B)
Precipitation:
In a BWh climate, precipitation is greatest in summer.
In a BSh climate, precipitation is greatest in winter.
Temperature:
A lack of clouds makes for a greater temperature range.
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The Dry Climates (B)
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The Dry Climates (B)
West coast subtropical deserts:
These deserts are the Namib, Atacama, Sonoran,
and Sahara.
Cold ocean currents just off shore have a dramatic
influence on the climate.
These areas have cooler mean annual temperatures and
smaller daily ranges.
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The Dry Climates (B)
Middle-latitude desert (BWk) and steppe (BSk)
These are mainly caused by rain shadows.
They have much lower winter temperatures and higher
annual ranges of temperature.
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Humid Middle-Latitude Climates
with Mild Winters (C)
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Humid Middle-Latitude Climates
with Mild Winters (C)
Humid subtropical climate (Cfa)
This climate is found on the eastern side of continents
between 25°–40° latitude.
They have hot and humid summers and annual
precipitation of 100+ cm.
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Humid Middle-Latitude Climates
with Mild Winters (C)
The marine west coast climate (Cfb)
This climate is on the western sides of continents between
40°–65° latitude.
They have mild winters and cool summers with
precipitation throughout year.
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Humid Middle-Latitude Climates
with Mild Winters (C)
The dry summer subtropical (Mediterranean)
climate (Csa, Csb)
These are typically located on the western sides of
continents between latitudes 30° and 45°.
Temperature:
The Csa type has warmer summers.
The Csb type has cooler summers.
Precipitation:
Both average between 40 and 80 cm year and are
considered subhumid.
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Humid Continental Climates
with Severe Winters (D)
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Humid Continental Climates
with Severe Winters (D)
Humid continental climate (Dfa):
This is a land-controlled climate.
Annual temperature ranges are great.
Maximum precipitation occurs during the summer.
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Humid Continental Climates
with Severe Winters (D)
The subarctic climate (Dfc, Dfd)
This is often called the taiga climate.
It is characterized by long, bitterly cold winters and short
warm/hot summers.
This climate has approximately 50 cm of precipitation
per year.
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The Polar Climates (E)
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The Polar Climates (E)
The tundra climate (ET)
Large portions are characterized by permafrost.
This climate has small amounts of precipitation with a
modest summer maximum.
It has cool short summers (10°C).
Tundras can also occur at higher elevations.
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The Polar Climates (E)
The ice-cap climate (EF):
This climate has no monthly mean temp above 0°C.
The landscape is one of permanent ice and snow.
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Highland Climates
These mountain climates (at elevation) are cooler
and usually wetter than those at lower elevations.
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End Of Chapter 15