Climate Regions

Scientists Classify Climate According to Two Major Factors  Temperature  Precipitation

Köppen (KEP un) System  Included distinct vegetation in different areas.

 Identifies broad climate regions ◦ Each has smaller subdivisions

Six Main Climate Regions  Tropical Rainy  Dry  Temperate Marine  Temperate Continental  Polar  Highlands

Tropical Rainy Subdivisions  Tropical Wet – Always hot and humid; Heavy rainfall; 6 Centimeters per month all year long.

Tropical Wet  Rainforest

Tropical Rainy Subdivisions  Tropical Wet - and - Dry – Always hot; Alternating wet and dry seasons; Heavy rainfall in the wet season.

Tropical Wet - Dry  Savanna – Grassland close to the equator; 120 centimeters of rain per year.

Dry Climate Subdivisions  Arid – Arid Regions/Deserts; Less than 25 centimeters of rain; Hot and Sandy, Cold or Rocky.

Dry Climate Subdivisions  Semi-Arid – Dry; 25-50 centimeters of precipitation per year.

Semi-arid  Steppe – prairie or grassland

Temperate Marine Climate Subdivisions  Marine West Coast – Mild winters; Cool summers; Moderate precipitation all year.

Temperate Marine Climate Subdivisions  Mediterranean – Warm; Dry summers; Rainy winters.

Temperate Marine Climate Subdivisions  Humid Subtropical – Hot summers; Cool winters

Temperate Continental Climate Subdivisions  Humid Continental – Hot, humid summers; Cold winters; moderate precipitation all year.

Temperate Continental Climate Subdivisions  Subarctic – Short, cool summers; Long, cold winters; Light precipitation mainly in summer.

Polar Climate Subdivisions  Icecap – Always below freezing ( At or below 0º Celsius).

Polar Climate Subdivisions  Tundra – Always cold; Short, cool summers; Bitterly cold winters.

In The Tundra  Permafrost – Permanently frozen soil; cannot drain… wet and boggy in summer.

Highlands  Highlands – Cooler and wetter than nearby lowlands. (Temperature decreases with altitude)