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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 Classification

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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 winters

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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.

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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)

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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 coast

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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 10.19

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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.

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Dry, Arid, and Semiarid Climates (B) Desert Landscape

Figure 10.23

Low-Latitude Hot Desert

Figure 10.24

Mid-Latitude Cold Desert

Figure 10.25

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Generalized Climate Regions

Figure 10.4