21-2 Flashcards
what is a climatologist?
person who studies climates
who was the Russian-German climatologist and what did he do?
Wladimir Köppen. he developed classification system based on average temperature and on precipitation of different regions
what are the five major groups that the Köppen Classification System divides climates into?
humid tropical, humid mid-latitude, dry, polar, highland climates; each is divided into sub groups
what is the climate/temperature like in tropics and what are the sub groups?
tropics have no winters, average temp above 18 C, 10% of Earth’s lands. the two types are wet tropical and tropical wet and dry.
describe the wet tropical group.
Equatorial lowlands have frequent rain and thunderstorms due to strong midday heating. Warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses into rain. Trade winds bring ocean moisture, supporting lush vegetation and year-round rainforests.
describe the tropical wet and dry group.
slightly less rain than tropical, distinctive dry and rainy seasons. contains savannas
what are savannas?
tropical grasslands, scattered clumps of trees that can survive dry season
what are climate graphs and what do they do?
shows how temperature and precipitation vary - average monthly temperature, average monthly precipitation, and combined temp and precipitation
what is the climate/temperature like in humid mid-latitude?
mild winters, average coldest month temperature below 18 C but above -3 C, also include severe winters and average coldest month temperature below -3 C
what are the 3 types of humid mid-latitude with mild winters?
humid subtropical climates, marine west-coast climates, and dry-summer subtropical regions (mediterranean climate)
describe humid subtropical climate. where is it and what are the winters/summers like?
between 25 and 40 degrees latitude on the eastern sides of the continents. Summer: hot, sultry water with high daytime temps. Winter: mild, may have frost/higher latitudes
describe marine west-coast climates. where is it? what are summers and winters like?
about 40 and 65 N and S latitude.
Marine air masses causes in mild winters and cool summers, lots of rainfall
describe dry-summer subtropical regions. where is it? when is winter?
about 30 and 45 degrees latitude; only humid regions that have high maximum winter rainfall
Winter is in May-August
describe humid mid-latitude climates with severe weather? what are the two types?
strongly influenced by continental landmasses, oceans dominate this zone. the two types are humid continental climate and humid subarctic climates.
describe humid continental climate. where is it? how is winter and summer? how does weather change?
Between 40° and 50° latitude, winters are cold, and summers are warm with more rain. Weather changes as tropical and polar air masses shift, with cold polar air moving south in winter and warm tropical air moving north in summer.
describe humid subarctic climates. how are summers and winters?
north of humid continental climate and south of tundra. Summers are short and warm, winters long and cold, results in high temperature ranges on Earth.
what defines a “dry” climate? what are the two types?
Precipitation is less than the water that could evaporate or be lost through plant transpiration. the two types are arid (desert climate) and semiarid (steppe).
Why might a cool, low-rain area not be as dry as a warm, low-rain area?
Water evaporates slower in cooler weather. Dryness is also caused by air sinking and warming, holding humidity, leading to clear skies and low rainfall, especially in rain shadows or mountain barriers.
describe arid (desert climate)
heat and drifting sand dunes, others cold and rocky. little/no rain, only plants like cactus and yucca survive.
deserts have extreme hot (day) and cold (night)
what is semiarid (steppe) climate?
located on edges of deserts, dry but enough rainfall for shortgrasses/bushes, can also be called prairie or grassland.
the transition zone between arid zones and humid climates
what are polar climates? what is winter and summer like? what are the two types?
when the mean temperature of the warmest month is below 10 degrees C. Winters have periods of perpetual night (very cold), during summer temps remain cool, little precipitation; two types - tundra and ice cap
describe tundra
treeless region almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere, plant life includes mosses, shrubs, flowering herbs
describe ice cap?
does not have a single monthly mean temperature above 0 degrees C, Landscape covered by permanent ice and snow
what are highland climates?
highland climates cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations
what is tree line? what is the climate like?
above a certain elevation, temps are too low for growth of trees. Climate similar to tundra, as you go higher precipitation increases, as air masses pass over it cools reaching dew point and precipitation
