Climates at (Very) Small ScalesSlide 2Slide 3Slide 4Influences on micro climateSlide 6Slide 7Slide 8Local climatesSlide 10Urban climatesSlide 12Moisture in urban environmentsSlide 14Climate change due to urbanizationMesoscale (regional) climatesClimate ClassificationSlide 18Köppen ClassificationSlide 20othersInfluence on vegetationExamples:Slide 24Climates at (Very) Small ScalesENVS 110 10-15-2008Influences on micro climate•Proximity to ground•Vegetation cover (e.g. grass, forest, shading)•Proximity to water•Vegetation height (e.g., surface roughness  wind speed)Local climates•Forest climates–Shading, trapping of solar energy within canopy, lower windspeeds–Influence on soil moisture, lower evaporation rates–Seasonal changesUrban climates•Albedo–Natural vegetation  concrete asphalt•Shading–Vegetation  buildings of various sizes•Effect on surface winds–Surface roughness, channeling of air currents•Aerosols (pollution)•Import of thermal energy (AC’s furnaces, etc.)Moisture in urban environmentsRural•Large storage of moisture in soil, vegetation, lakes etc.•Limited release through streams, groundwater etc.•Higher relative humidityUrban•Very little moisture storage•Efficient drainage•Lower relative humidityClimate change due to urbanization•Less sunshine due to various forms of pollution•More abundant clouds•Higher air temperatures due to albedo changes, heat retention and release, combustion etc.•More turbulent winds•Lower humidity•More intense storms due to stronger convection over built-up areasMesoscale (regional) climates•Often identified with distinctive geographic region (e.g., New England, California, the Mediterranean etc.)•Can approach from local (surface) conditions up to regional level, or from global scale down to regional level.Climate Classification•Greek: polar, temperate, tropical•Classifications based on distribution of temperature and moisture•Correlations between plant life and climate•Mix of climatological and botanical terms (e.g., tundra, prairie, savanna climate)•Empiric classification schemes: similar climates based on effect of climatic conditions on humans, vegetation etc.•Numeric classification: based on large databases, statistical parametersKöppen ClassificationFive major climate types:•A – Tropical rainy climates•B – Dry climates•C – Mid-latitude rainy climates, mild winter•D – Mid-latitude rainy climates, cold winter•E – Polar climatesothers•Thornthwaite–Based on moisture and temperature “efficiency”•Köppen in all it’s modifications and amendments•Genetic systems–Might address underlying causes of climate conditions–Based on airmass dominanceInfluence on vegetation•Vegetation depends crucially on moisture and temperature regimes•Vegetation and climate maps should be rather similare.g., distribution of deserts, rainforests, prairies etc.Examples:•Forests:–Require sufficient moisture, warmth  tropical, temperate, boreal forests•Grasslands:–Dominated by herbs and shrubs, drier regions•Savannaa:–Mixture of grassland and trees depending on local climate conditions•Deserts:–Very little moisture available•Tundra:–Very cold, often