Chapter 17 - Global Climate

Question 1

What factors determine the global pattern of precipitation?

Answer 1

Latitude, pressure, distribution of land and water, ocean currents, prevailing winds, mountain barriers, altitude

Question 2

Why are the lowest temperatures in polar regions observed in the interior of large land masses?

Answer 2

Land masses cool down more quickly. Sun low angle. Snow and ice lies there all year along and reflects a lot of the sunlight.

Question 3

What is the primary factor that makes a dry climate “dry”?

Answer 3

Downward movement of air = high pressure. Depends a lot on latitude.

Question 4

What are the controlling factors (the climatic controls) that produce the following climate regions:

(a) Tropical wet and dry
(b) Mediterranean
(c) Marine
(d) Humid subtropical
(e) Subpolar
(f) Polar ice cap

Answer 4

(a) Latitude, ocean currents, pressure, winds, land/water
(b) Sinking air, latitude, ocean currents, prevailing winds
(c) Ocean currents, prevailing winds, mountains
(d) Prevailing winds (east-coast), dew-point, latitude
(e) Ocean currents, latitude
(f) Downward wind, latitude

Question 5

Why did Köppen use the 10°C average temperature for July to distinguish between D (moist continental) and E (polar) climates?

Answer 5

Köppen found that the average monthly temperature of 10°C tended to represent the minimum temperature required for tree growth.

Question 6

What climatic controls affect the climate in your area?

Answer 6

Ocean currents, winds, altitude, latitude, land mass, pressure.