Geo # 3

variability and adverage temp over time

the study of climate and its variability, analyzes long-term weather patterns over time or space and the controls that produce Earth's diverse climate conditions

characteristic weather patterns

• insolation
• temperature
• precipitation
• air pressure
• air masses

pattern of solar energy in the Earth-atmosphere environment

sensible heat energy content of the air

• rain, sleet, snow, and hail
• the supply of moisture

varying patterns of atmospheric density

regional-sized homogenwous units of air

• the basic element in ecosystems
• self regulating communities of plants & animals that thrive in specific environments

the process of ordering or grouping related data in categories

based on causative factors (interaction of air masses)

based on statistical data

display of characteristics of the climate

• 1. Tropical (T)
• 2. Mesthermal (C)
• 3. Microthermal (D)
• 4.Polar (E)
• 5. Highland(H)

• all adverage monthly temps over 18^o
• AF = tropical rain forests
• - monthly precip over 60mm
• Am= tropical monsoon
• - month precip over 6mm
• - migration of ITCZ
• Aw = tropical savanna
• - pronounced winter dry season
• - drought

• subtropical
• mild winters
• adverage temp of coldest month over 0^o
• Cfa = humid, subtropical (eastern regions)
• Cfb, Cfc = marine west coast ( europe, britian, nor cal -alaska)
• Csa, Csb = medditerrian

• microthermal
• North Hemisphere only
• adverage mo temp over 10^o
• Dfa, Dwa = warm mo temp over 22^oc
• Dfb, Dwb = warm mo temp less 22^oc)
• Dfc, Dwc, Dwd = subartic (1-4 mo over 10^oc

• no summer
• ET = poleward limit of trees @ D boundry
• EF = 9% of world's land area
• - T = tundra (low laying grass)
• - F = ice

• evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation
• covers more land area than any other climate
• Bw = desert
• - annual precip less than 1/2 of moisture demand
• Bs = steppe , total demand of annual precip less than 1/2 of demand
• Bsk, Bwk = annual mean temp less than 50^oc

• determined by elevation (mountians)
• cooler temps than lower elevation @ same elevation
• lots of rain
• climatic variation dur to elevation
• treeline

• ocean currents
• wind patterns

25^o

high precipitation

• sand dunes
• thissle (tumble weeds)catus

frozen siol beneath surface

• land under snow
• only in Nor Hemi

• described by percip rather than temp
• occupy more than 35% of Earths land area

• the world's arid deserts and semiarid regions
• have unique plants, animals, and physical features

• in tropical and midlatitude areas
• precip-nat water supply = less than 1/2 of natural water demand

• tropical and midlatutude areas
• precip more than half of natuaral water demand but not satisfying it

Tropical

Arid-dry climates

subtropical climates

Continential & Subartic climates

Polar climates

highland climate

• sharp line of sub& polar climates
• no months greater then 10^o temp