10/11/2010 1 Geography 1001: Climate & Vegetation Dr. Holly Barnard Agenda for October 12, 2010 • Logistics • Review from class questions • Chapter 10 • Logistics – Midterm 2: Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 in this room during normal class time – Review in class on Thursday Come prepared with your Questions. Chapter 10 • Climate components & relationships • Köppen Climate Classification – Criteria – Benefits & Drawbacks • Köppen-Geiger Climate System – Earth’s Climate Classification10/11/2010 2 Climate Components (5) • Insolation • Temperature • Pressure • Air Masses • Precipitation Köppen-Geiger Climate System Figure 10.5 Köppen Classification: hierarchical criteria 1. Average monthly temperatures 2. Average monthly precipitation 3. Total annual precipitation Classification Categories (based purely on temperature criteria) • (A) Tropical – equatorial and tropical latitudes • (C) Mesothermal – mid-latitudes, mild winters • (D) Microthermal – mid- and high-latitudes, cold winters10/11/2010 3 Classification Categories (based purely on temperature criteria) • (E) Polar – high latitudes and polar regions • (H) Highland – compares to lowlands at the same latitude, highlands have lower temperatures • (B) Desert – permanent moisture deficits* Sub-climates • Within each climates, the subtypes are based on precipitation gradients Tropical Climates • Equatorial and tropical latitudes – Tropical Rain Forest Climates – rainy all year – Tropical Monsoon Climates – 6 to 12 months rainy – Tropical Savanna Climates – less than 6 months rainy Precipitation Gradient Tropical Climates (A) ~36% of the earth’s surface—the most extensive climate category.10/11/2010 4 Tropical Rain Forest Figure 10.7 Tropical Monsoon Figure 10.8 Tropical Savanna Figure 10.9 Mesothermal Climates • Midlatitudes, mild winters – Humid Subtropical – hot-summer climates – Marine West Coast – warm to cool summers – Mediterranean – dry-summer climates Precipitation Gradient (seasonality)10/11/2010 5 Mesothermal Climates (C) • 2nd largest % of earth’s surface (land-ocean) ~27%. • Land area alone is considered only fourth. • Together, A & C climates dominate more than half of earth oceans and about one third of the land area. • ~ 55% of people around the world lives in C’s climates Meso-thermal middle-heat, or middle temps Mesothermal Climates (C) Figure 10.11 Mesothermal – Humid Subtropical Mesothermal – Marine West coast10/11/2010 6 Figure 10.16 Mesothermal – Mediterranean Microthermal Climates D • Mid and high latitudes, cold winters – Humid Continental – hot to warm summers – Subarctic – cool summers Average Annual Temperature Gradient •Increasing seasonality (daylenght and Sun altitude) Microthermal Climates (D) Subarctic – Cool Summer Figure 10.1910/11/2010 7 Polar and Highland Climates • High latitudes and polar regions – Tundra – high latitude and high altitude – Ice Cap and Ice Sheet – permanently frozen – Polar Marine – oceanic association • ~19% of earth’s total surface • This climate have no true summer average monthly temps never rises over above 50F Polar Climates (E) Dry, Arid, and Semiarid Climates • Permanent moisture deficits – Arid desert - less that about 35 cm (14 in.) precipitation per year – Semiarid steppe - less than about 60 cm (23.6 in) precipitation per year – They occupy ~35% of earth’s land; the most extensive climate over land.10/11/2010 8 Dry, Arid, and Semiarid Climates (B) Desert Landscape Figure 10.23 Low-Latitude Hot Desert Figure 10.24 Mid-Latitude Cold Desert Figure 10.2510/11/2010 9 Generalized Climate Regions Figure
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