Understanding Global Climate: Patterns & Influences | Explore Köppen Classification & Climate Zones

1. Chapter 13: Global Climate • A world with many climates • Climatic classification - the Köppen system • The global pattern of climate

2. Global Temperatures • controls on temperature climatology:- intensity of sunshine and its variation with latitude- distribution of land and water and ocean currents- prevailing winds- location of high and low pressure areas- mountain barriers and altitude Q1: Why is the Antarctic in the next slide not so cold? because a) winter and summer average out b) Antarctic is actually not too cold compared to Arctic c) only the equivalent sea-level temperature is shown d) Arctic is simply colder Q2: where is the hottest place on earth? a) subtropical desert; b) equatorial ocean; c) equatorial land; d) midlatitudes

3. Average annual sea-level temperature Fig. 13-1, p. 355

4. Global Precipitation • Precipitation is most abundant where air rises,and least abundant where it sinks. • relationship to areas of rising and sinking air • influence of ITCZ • influence of orographic uplift and rain shadows Q3: Why does snow still accumulate over Antarctic when the precipitation there is similar to that in the Sahara Desert? Because a) altitude is high; b) it is cold c) evaporation/sublimation is even smaller than precipitation; d) katabatic wind is too strong Q4: where are the wettest locations on earth? a) windward side of mountains; b) flat plains c) leeward side of mountains; d) valleys

5. mm/month

6. Fig. 13-2, p. 356

7. Climatic Classification - the Köppen System (1918) • Tropical moist climates • dry climates • moist midlatitude climates with mild winters • moist midlatitude climates with severe winters • polar climates • mountains • criticisms of the Köppen climate classification system: sharp boundary between climatic zones due to the use of vegetation to represent monthly temperature and precipitation.

8. Fig. 13-6, p. 361

9. The Global Pattern of Climate • Major features of Earth’s climate distribution (moist tropical, dry, moist/mild winter, moist/severe winter, polar, highland) • local variations within larger climate regions

10. Q5: Arizona climate belongs to a) semi-arid or steppe; b) tropical wet and dry c) moist climate with mild and dry winter Q6: Florida climate belongs to a) semi-arid or steppe; b) tropical wet and dry c) humid subtropical with mild winter Q7: Minnesota climate belongs to a) semi-arid or steppe b) humid subtropical with mild winter c) humid continental with severe winter d) moist tropical

11. Tropical Moist Climates • tropical wet (Af): rainforest; small seasonal temperature variation; soil nutrients from dead tree decomposition • tropical monsoon (Am): rainforest, with 1-2 dry months

12. Tropical Moist Climates • tropical wet and dry (Aw): savanna; distinct dry season; larger seasonal temperature variation Q8: Why does max P occur in summer? a) ITCZ is located there in summer b) temperature is higher c) vegetation needs water in summer d) dust storm is less

13. Tropical Moist Climates • tropical wet and dry (Aw): savanna; distinct dry season; larger seasonal temperature variation Q9: Why does max T occur in March? a) ITCZ is located there in March b) solar heating is strong with minimal clouds c) dust storm is more frequent

14. Dry Climates • In general, minimal P, large T seasonal variation, high T • arid (BW): most of the deserts in the world; few deserts are completely barren Q10: What is the age of the cactus with arms in the figure? a) 0-20 yrs, b) 20-40 yrs, c) 40-60 yrs, d) > 60 yrs

15. Dry Climates • semiarid (BS) or steppe: most of western U.S. (including Tucson); grass or shrubs Q11: is it possible to have coastal deserts with clouds and drizzles in the world? a) yes; b) no

17. Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climates humid with mild winters; relatively large T variation • humid subtropical (CfA): SE U.S.; small P seasonal variation • (west coast) marine (CfB): cool summer

18. Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climates • Mediterranean (Cs): dry summer; western coast of U.S.; coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea coastal Cs interior Cs Q12: why is summer so dry in San Francisco? a) subtropical high; b) foggy weather, c) cold temperature, d) cloudy sky

19. Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climates Vegetation type: chaparral (includes Chamise, manzanita, and foothill pine) • Mediterranean (Cs):

20. Moist Continental Climates with Severe Winter Hot summer Dfa Cool summer Subpolar Dfb Dfc

21. Polar Climates Tundra (ET) ice caps (EF)

22. Highland Climates • altitude effects are similar to latitude effects: 100 m elevation difference ~ 1 deg in horizontal distance Across central Sierra Nevada

23. Q13: Semi-arid regions usually have a) grassland and/or shrubland, b) forest, c) tundra Q14: Mediterranean climate usually has a) shrubland, b) grassland, c) chaparral, d) forest Q15: Humid continental climate with severe winter and cool summer usually has a) boreal forest, b) grassland, c) shrubs Q16: Subpolar or polar climate usually has a) forest, b) tundra