climate

Climate The Earth’s Climate

What causes the seasons and different climates of the Earth? -Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earths axis relative to the plane of revolution. In temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the intensity of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface, variations of which may cause animals to go into hibernation or to migrate, and plants to be dormant.

What is the difference between climate and weather? The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.

Describe each of the following climate types:

Low-latitude climates: These climates are controlled by equatorial a tropical air masses.

• Tropical moist: year-round warm temperatures (all months have mean temperatures above 18°C [64°F]) and abundant rainfall (typical annual average exceeds 150 cm [59"]) • Wet-dry tropical: the climate experiences a distinct seasonality to its precipitation like that of the tropical monsoon climate. Also known as the "Savanna" climate, it supports a ground cover of drought resistant grasses with scattered trees, but not enough rainfall to make agriculture a viable, life sustaining activity.

• Dry tropical: Dry Climates are characterized by little rain and a huge daily temperature range. Two subgroups, **S** - semiarid or steppe, and **W** - arid or desert, are used with the **B** climates.

Mid-latitude climates: these climates have warm,dry summers and cool, wet winters. • Dry mid-latitude: This dry climate exists in the interior regions of the North American and Eurasian continents. Moist ocean air masses are blocked by mountain ranges to the west and south. These mountain ranges also trap polar air in winter, making winters very cold. Summers are warm to hot. • Mediterranean: This is a wet-winter, dry-summer climate. Extremely dry summers are caused by the sinking air of the subtropical highs and may last for up to five months. • Moist continental:

High-latitude climates: Polar and arctic air masses dominate these regions. Canada and Siberia are two air-mass sources which fall into this group. A southern hemisphere counterpart to these continental centers does not exist. Air masses of arctic origin meet polar continental air masses along the 60th and 70th parallels.

• Boreal forest: This is a continental climate with long, very cold winters, and short, cool summers. This climate is found in the polar air mass region. Very cold air masses from the arctic often move in. The temperature range is larger than any other climate. Precipitation increases during summer months, although annual precipitation is still small.

• Tundra: The tundra climate is found along arctic coastal areas. Polar and arctic air masses dominate the tundra climate. The winter season is long and severe. A short, mild season exists, but not a true summer season. Moderating ocean winds keep the temperatures from being as severe as interior regions.

• Highland: Highland climates are cool to cold, found in mountains and high plateaus. Climates change rapidly on mountains, becoming colder the higher the altitude gets. The climate of a highland area is closely related to the climate of the surrounding biome. The highlands have the same seasons and wet and dry periods as the biome they are in.

According to the Köppen climate classification system, describe the following climates:

• Db: temperate continental climate • Ca: warm mediterranean continental climate • Am: monsoon climate

Using the Köppen climate classification system, what climate do you live in? Why? temperate continental climate