Chapter 3 Weather Climate World Climate Regions 1

Chapter 3 – Weather & Climate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ice Cap • • • Snow, ice, and permanently freezing temperatures characterize this region. So cold it rarely snows. This region is sometimes referred to as a Polar Desert because it receives less than 10 inches of precipitation per year. o Coldest temperature = -128. 6 F (Vostok, Antarctica) Found only on the continent of Antarctica

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

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

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