Transcript Document

Chapter 13: Global
Climate
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A world with many climates
Climatic classification - the Köppen system
The global pattern of climate
Global Temperatures
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controls on climate:
- intensity of sunshine and its variation with
latitude
- distribution of land and water
- ocean currents
- prevailing winds
- location of high and low pressure areas
- mountain barriers
- altitude
‘bending’ of isotherms near continents
Fig. 13-1, p. 355
Global Precipitation
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relationship to areas of rising and sinking
air
influence of ITCZ
influence of orographic uplift and rain
shadows
• Precipitation is most abundant where air rises,
and least abundant where it sinks.
mm/month
Fig. 13-2, p. 356
Climatic Classification - the Köppen
System (1918)
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Tropical moist climates
dry climates
moist midlatitude climates with mild winters
moist midlatitude climates with severe winters
polar climates
criticisms of the Köppen climate classification
system: sharp boundary between climatic zones due to
the use of vegetation to represent monthly temperature
and precipitation.
Fig. 13-6, p. 361
The Global Pattern of Climate
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Major features of Earth’s climate distribution (moist tropical, dry,
moist/mild winter, moist/severe winter, polar, highland)
local variations within larger climate regions
Tropical Moist Climates
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tropical wet (Af)
tropical monsoon (Am)
Tropical Moist Climates
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tropical wet and dry (Aw)
Savanna
Dry Climates
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arid (BW)
Dry Climates
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semiarid (BS)
Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climates
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humid subtropical (CfA)
(west coast) marine (CfB)
Moist Subtropical MidLatitude Climates
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Mediterranean (Cs)
coastal
Cs
interior
Cs
Moist Climates with Severe Winter
Hot summer
Dfa
Cool summer
Dfb
Subpolar
Dfc
Polar Climates
Tundra (ET)
ice caps (EF)
Highland Climates
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altitude effects are similar to latitude
effects