M3L4 - Climate Classification Flashcards
1
Q
Why do we try to classify the environment
A
- Want to compare across/between locations
- Understand what areas we expect different types of flora and fauna to be
present in
2
Q
Köppen classification
A
- Looks at climate conditions and vegetation
- Five main classifications predominantly based on temperature
- Subtypes broadly define seasonality of precipitation
3
Q
Five main classifications of the Koppen classification
A
- A: tropical
- B: arid
- C: temperate
- D: continental
- E: polar
- H: highland
4
Q
A (tropical)
A
Temperature of coolest month 18ºC or higher
5
Q
B (arid)
A
70% or more of annual precipitation falls in summer OR winter half of year
6
Q
C (temperate)
A
Temperature of the warmest month greater than or equal to 10ºC, and temperature of coldest month less than 18ºC but greater than -3ºC
7
Q
D (continental)
A
Temperature of warmest month greater than or equal to 10, and temperature of the coldest month -3ºC or lower
8
Q
E (Polar)
A
Temperature of warmest month less than 10ºC
9
Q
H (highland)
A
- Temperature and precipitation
characteristics highly dependent on traits of adjacent zones and overall elevation - Not often used
10
Q
What Koppen classification is Calgary
A
- Dfb
- D: Temperature of warmest month greater than or equal to 10 °C, and temperature of coldest month –3 °C or lower
- f: precipitation more evenly distributed throughout year
- b: temperature of each of four warmest months 10 °C or above but warmest month less than 22 °C
11
Q
A
