13071_03 global climate & its types

8/4/2019 13071_03 Global Climate & Its Types

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GLOBALCLIMATE&ITSTYPES

The Earth's climates can be divided into generalclimate zones according to average temperatures.

These climate zones can be broken down into

subzones. Even the subzones have further

subdivisions. In fact, scientists even classify very

localized climates as microclimates. A microclimate

can be as small as your own backyard!

The three major climate zones on the Earth are the

polar, temperate, and tropical zones. Temperatures

in these three climate zones are determined mainly

by the location, or latitude, of the zone. Use the

graphic to find the locations of the three major

climate zones. In what climate zone is Alaska

located? Hawaii? In what climate zone do you live?

PolarZonesIn each hemisphere, the polar zone extends from

the pole (90) to about 60 degrees latitude. Polar

climates have the coldest average temperatures.

Within the polar zones, the average yearly

temperature remains below freezing (below O

degrees C). Polar climates have no summer. Even

during the warmest months of the year, the

average temperature does not rise above 10

degrees C. There is little precipitation in the

polar zones.

Temperate Zones

In each hemisphere, the temperate zone is foundbetween 60 and 30 degrees latitude. In the areasof the temperate zones farther from the equator,snow is common in the winter. In the areas ofthe temperate zones closer to the equator, rainnormally falls all year round. But the averageamount of precipitation is about the samethroughout the temperate zones. Averagetemperatures in the temperate zones varygreatly. They range from about 5 C to more than

20 C. These temperatures fall between those ofthe polar and the tropical zones.


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The tropical zones, which extend from 30

degrees north and south latitude to the equator

(0 degrees) have high temperatures and high

humidity. Precipitation in the tropical zones is

usually very heavy during part of the year.

Tropical zones are also known as low latitude

climates.

Tropical climates have the warmest average

yearly temperatures. There is no winter in

tropical climates. In a tropical climate, the

average temperature during the coldest month

of the year does not fall below 18 degrees C.

ClimateZones

ClimateclassificationThere are several ways to classify climates into

similar regimes. Originally, climes were

defined in Ancient Greece to describe the

' .

Modern climate classification methods can be

broadly divided into genetic methods , which

focus on the causes of climate, andempiric

methods which focus on the effects ofclimate.


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Examples of genetic classification include

methods based on the relative frequency of

different air mass types or locations within

synoptic weather disturbances. (Bergeron andSpatial Synoptic climate classification)

Examp es o emp r c c ass cat ons nc u e

climate zones defined by plant hardiness,

evapotranspiration, air mass origin, or more

generally the Kppen climate classification

which was originally designed to identify the

climates associated with certain biomes.

A common shortcoming of

these classification schemes

is that they produce distinct

boundaries between the

zones they define, rather

than the radual transition

of climate properties more

common in nature.


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Kppen climateclassificationThe Kppen classification includes climate

regimes such as Rain forest, monsoon, tropical

savanna, humid subtropical, humid

, ,

climate, continental steppe, subarctic climate,

tundra, polar ice cap, and desert.


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Recordclimateclassification Modern

Details of the modern climate record are knownthrough the taking of measurements from suchweather instruments as thermometers,barometers, and anemometers during the pastew centur es. T e nstruments use to stu y

weather conditions over the modern timescale, their known error, their immediateenvironment, and their exposure have changed

over the years, which must be consideredwhen studying the climate of centuries past.


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Paleoclimatology

Paleoclimatology is the study of past climate

over a great period of the Earth's history. It

uses evidence from ice sheets, tree rings,

sediments, coral, and rocks to determine the

past state of the climate. It demonstrates

periods of stability and periods of change and

can indicate whether changes follow patterns

such as regular cycles.

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13071_03 global climate & its types

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