Global Climates Flashcards
What is climate?
climate is the atmospheric conditions over a long period of time
What are the broad categories of climate?
hot, temperate and cold
name 3 hot climates
equatorial
savanna
hot desert
name 2 temperate climates
warm temperate climate
cool temperate climate
name 2 cold climates
tundra
boreal
What are the characteristics of an equatorial climate?
Location: on or near the equator e.g. Ecuador
Temperature: hot all year around. Average temp is
27°C
Precipitation: rainfall. Over 2000mm yearly
savanna climate?
5-15 degrees north and south of the equator,
e.g. parts of brazil
What is the temperature like in a savanna climate?
Summer: can reach to 30°C
Winter: 20°C
What is the precipitation like in a savanna climate?
Dry season: little rainfall, 20mm max, no rain December to February
Wet season: as much as 1000mm of rainfall
Where can you find a hot desert climate?
15-30 degrees north and south of the equator,
e.g. Sahara
What is the temperature like in a hot desert climate?
Daytime: 40-50°C
Nighttime: can drop to 0°C
What is the precipitation like in a hot desert climate?
less than 250mm of rainfall per year
Where can you find a warm temperate oceanic climate?
30-40 degrees north and south of the equator. Majority around the Mediterranean Sea
What is the temperature like in a warm temperate oceanic climate?
Summers: average temp 30°C. Almost no rain in July and August
Winters: Mild and moist, 8°C
What is the precipitation like in a warm temperate oceanic climate?
Rainfall. Yearly average of 400mm
Where can you find a cold temperate oceanic climate?
40-60 degrees north and south of the equator
What is the temperature like in a cold temperate oceanic climate?
Summers: Average temperatures 6-14°C
Winters: Temperatures can fall to 0°C
What is the precipitation like in a cold temperate oceanic climate?
Rain, hail, sleet, snow. Rainfall 800-2000mm
Where can you find a tundra climate?
The North Pole
What is the temperature like in a tundra climate?
Summer: 4°C
Winters: -35°C
What is the precipitation like in a tundra climate?
around 250 mm per year
Where can you find a boreal climate?
Across the northern hemisphere. 55-66 degrees north of the equator
What is the temperature like in a boreal climate?
Summer: 16°C
Winters: -29°C
What is the precipitation like in a boreal climate?
less than 400mm per year
What are the 4 factors influencing climate?
- Distance from Seas and Oceans
- Latitude
- Prevailing winds/Air masses
- Altitude and Aspect
