climates of the world

1. Chapter 3 – Weather & Climate
Chapter 3 – Weather & Climate

2. World Climate Regions
World Climate Regions
1. Tropical Humid
2. Tropical Wet & Dry
3. Arid (Desert)
4. Semiarid
5. Mediterranean
6. Marine West Coast
7. Humid Subtropical
8. Humid Continental
9. Subarctic
10. Tundra
11. Ice Cap
12. Highland (Alpine)

3. Tropical Humid
Tropical Humid
• Little variation in temperature over the year.
Little variation in temperature over the year.
• It is always hot with a daily average temperature of 80
It is always hot with a daily average temperature of 80
degrees Fahrenheit.
degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is
Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is
usually more than 80 inches.
usually more than 80 inches.
• Found in Central and South America, as well as
Found in Central and South America, as well as
Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Indonesia
Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Indonesia
.
.
• Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.
Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.
• Found along the Equator or areas close to the Equator.
Found along the Equator or areas close to the Equator.
• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm

4. Tropical
Tropical
Wet & Dry
Wet & Dry
• This sub region has a rainy
This sub region has a rainy
season in the summer and a dry
season in the summer and a dry
season in winter.
season in winter.
• Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.
Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.
• Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.
Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.
• Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid
Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid
climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.
climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.
• The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.
The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm

5. ARID
ARID(DESERT)
(DESERT)
• Deserts are categorized by the amount
Deserts are categorized by the amount
annual rainfall received.
annual rainfall received.
• Deserts receive less than 10 inches of rainfall
Deserts receive less than 10 inches of rainfall
per year.
per year.
• Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity and
Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity and
high temperatures during the day. At night
high temperatures during the day. At night
the temperature falls because the dry air
the temperature falls because the dry air
cannot hold heat well.
cannot hold heat well.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm

6. Semiarid
Semiarid
• This sub-region does not receive much
This sub-region does not receive much
precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per
precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per
year.
year.
• Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.
Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.
• This climate is located in the interior of
This climate is located in the interior of
continents, or in a zone around deserts.
continents, or in a zone around deserts.
• Much of the American west falls into this climate
Much of the American west falls into this climate
type.
type.

7. Mediterranean
Mediterranean
• Primarily found surrounding the
Primarily found surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea.
Mediterranean Sea.
• Summers are dry and hot while winters
Summers are dry and hot while winters
are cool and rainy.
are cool and rainy.
• Supports a dense human population and
Supports a dense human population and
rich agricultural activity.
rich agricultural activity.
• Many of the first great human
Many of the first great human
civilizations thrived in this climate.
civilizations thrived in this climate.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm

8. Marine West Coast
Marine West Coast
• Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy,
Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy,
foggy, and damp.
foggy, and damp.
• Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps
Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps
temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.
temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.
• Precipitation is evenly distributed
Precipitation is evenly distributed
throughout the year.
throughout the year.
• Rains a lot throughout the year.
Rains a lot throughout the year.
• Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest)
Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest)
• London, England
London, England

9. Humid Subtropical
Humid Subtropical
• Long periods of heat and humidity characterize
Long periods of heat and humidity characterize
this climate region.
this climate region.
• These areas are found on the east coast of
These areas are found on the east coast of
continents and are often subject to hurricanes
continents and are often subject to hurricanes
in late summer and autumn.
in late summer and autumn.
• Winters are mild to cool,
Winters are mild to cool,
depending on latitude.
depending on latitude.
• Very suitable for raising crops,
Very suitable for raising crops,
(rice).
(rice).
• Philadelphia, PA & South
Philadelphia, PA & South
Jersey
Jersey

10. Humid
Humid
Continental
Continental
• This climate region experiences a
This climate region experiences a
variety in temperature and
variety in temperature and
precipitation.
precipitation.
• Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees)
Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees)
interiors of northern hemisphere continents.
interiors of northern hemisphere continents.
• These regions also experience four distinct seasons.
These regions also experience four distinct seasons.
• NEPA is located in this climate region.
NEPA is located in this climate region.
• Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.
Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htm

11. SUBARCTIC
SUBARCTIC
• Evergreen forests called “TAIGA”
Evergreen forests called “TAIGA”
cover the lands in this climate region.
cover the lands in this climate region.
• Huge temperature variations occur between
Huge temperature variations occur between
summer and winter.
summer and winter.
• Summers are short and cool while the winters are
Summers are short and cool while the winters are
long & extremely cold.
long & extremely cold.
• Temperatures at freezing or
Temperatures at freezing or
below last five to eight months of
below last five to eight months of
the year.
the year.
• Boreal Forest
Boreal Forest
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm

12. TUNDRA
TUNDRA
• Tundra is the flat, treeless lands
Tundra is the flat, treeless lands
forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.
forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.
• Almost exclusively located in the northern
Almost exclusively located in the northern
hemisphere
hemisphere
• Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.
Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.
• Permanently frozen subsoil called
Permanently frozen subsoil called
“Permafrost”
“Permafrost”
• Summer only lasts a few weeks with
Summer only lasts a few weeks with
temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

13. Ice Cap
Ice Cap
• Snow, ice, and permanently freezing
Snow, ice, and permanently freezing
temperatures characterize this region.
temperatures characterize this region.
• So cold it rarely snows.
So cold it rarely snows.
• This region is sometimes referred to as a Polar
This region is sometimes referred to as a Polar
Desert because it receives less than 10 inches
Desert because it receives less than 10 inches
of precipitation per year.
of precipitation per year.
• Coldest temperature = -128.6
Coldest temperature = -128.6
o
o
F (Vostok,
F (Vostok,
Antarctica)
Antarctica)
• Found only on the continent of Antarctica
Found only on the continent of Antarctica

14. HIGHLANDS
HIGHLANDS
(Alpine)
(Alpine)
Highland climates vary depending
upon four factors:
1. Latitude
2. Elevation (Altitude)
3. Topography
4. Continental Location
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine.htm

15. Climate Region Major Characteristics
Tropical Humid
Tropical Humid Always hot (80o F average) &
Always hot (80o F average) &
rains daily
rains daily
Tropical Wet & Dry
Tropical Wet & Dry Rainy season in summer & dry
Rainy season in summer & dry
season in winter
season in winter
Semiarid
Semiarid About 16” rain per year
About 16” rain per year
Arid (Desert)
Arid (Desert) Less than 10” rain per year.
Less than 10” rain per year.
Mediterranean
Mediterranean Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy
Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy
winters.
winters.

16. Climate Type Major Characteristics
Humid Subtropical
Humid Subtropical Found in SE United States
Found in SE United States
& subject to hurricanes.
& subject to hurricanes.
Humid Continental
Humid Continental Found in NEPA &
Found in NEPA &
experiences four seasons.
experiences four seasons.
Subarctic
Subarctic Evergreen forests dominate
Evergreen forests dominate
this climate.
this climate.
Tundra
Tundra Summers are so short and
Summers are so short and
cool that permafrost exists.
cool that permafrost exists.
Ice Cap
Ice Cap Known as the Polar desert
Known as the Polar desert
Highlands (Alpine)
Highlands (Alpine) Climate varies with four
Climate varies with four
factors.
factors.