Climate
Characteristics
A. Temperature
B. Precipitation
C. Seasons (hot/cold, wet/dry)
Elements
A. Latitude
B. Winds – Distributes heat
C. Elevation
D. Water – Moderate temperature
E. Ocean Currents
Climate Regions
Low Latitudes
A. Tropical Wet – Rains a lot and is hot (Rainforest)
B. Tropical Wet and Dry – Rains half the year and is hot (Savanna)
Climate Regions
Middle Latitudes
A. Mediterranean
B. Humid Continental
C. Humid Subtropical
D. Marine West Coast
Climate Regions
High Latitudes
A. Subarctic (boreal forests such as Taiga)
B. Tundra (cold grassland)
C. Icecap
Climate Regions
Other
A. Arid (desert)
B. Semiarid (dry grasslands such as steppe)
C. Highland (located in mountains)
Vegetation
A. Rainforest – Forest with broadleaf trees located in low latitudes (jungle)
B. Savanna – Tropical grassland in Africa
C. Steppe – Dry grassland near deserts (Sahara, Gobi)
D. Middle Latitude Forest – Mixed forest with coniferous and deciduous trees
E. Taiga – Coniferous forest located in Russia (boreal forest)
F. Tundra – Cold grassland with permafrost
Weather
A. Monsoons – Seasonal wind patterns in South and Southeast Asia that bring rain
B. Typhoons – Tropical storms in Pacific Ocean
C. Hurricanes – Tropical storms in Atlantic Ocean
D. Tornadoes – Twisting funnel shaped storms in U.S.
Monsoons
A. Positive – Brings rain so people can grow crops
B. Negative – Rain causes flooding near rivers and areas with low elevation