World Climate RegionsWorld Climate Regions

ClimateClimate

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Climate Book ProjectClimate Book Project

World Climate RegionsWorld Climate Regions

1. Tropical Wet

2. Tropical Wet & Dry

3. Semiarid

4. Desert

5. Mediterranean

6. Marine West Coast

7. Humid Subtropical

8. Humid Continental

9. Subarctic

10. Tundra

11. Ice Cap

12. Highland (Alpine)

Tropical WetTropical Wet

• Little variation in temperature over the year.Little variation in temperature over the year.• It is always hot with a daily average temperature of It is always hot with a daily average temperature of

80 degrees Fahrenheit.80 degrees Fahrenheit.• Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is

usually more than 80 inches.usually more than 80 inches.• Found in Central and South America, as well as Found in Central and South America, as well as

Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Indonesia .Indonesia .

• Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.• Found along the Equator or areas close to the Found along the Equator or areas close to the

Equator.Equator.• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm

Tropical Tropical Wet & DryWet & Dry

• This sub region has a rainy This sub region has a rainy season in the summer and a season in the summer and a dry season in winter.dry season in winter.

• Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.• Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.• Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid

climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.• The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm

SemiaridSemiarid

• This sub-region does not receive much This sub-region does not receive much precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per year.year.

• Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.• This climate is located in the interior of This climate is located in the interior of

continents, or in a zone around deserts.continents, or in a zone around deserts.• Much of the American west falls into this climate Much of the American west falls into this climate

type. type.

DESERTDESERT • Deserts are categorized by the amount Deserts are categorized by the amount

annual rainfall received.annual rainfall received.• Deserts receive less than 10 inches of Deserts receive less than 10 inches of

rainfall per year.rainfall per year.• Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity

and high temperatures during the day. At and high temperatures during the day. At night the temperature falls because the night the temperature falls because the dry air cannot hold heat well.dry air cannot hold heat well.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm

MediterraneanMediterranean• Primarily found surrounding the Primarily found surrounding the

Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.• Summers are dry and hot while winters Summers are dry and hot while winters

are cool and rainy.are cool and rainy.• Supports a dense human population and Supports a dense human population and

rich agricultural activity.rich agricultural activity.• Many of the first great human civilizations Many of the first great human civilizations

thrived in this climate. thrived in this climate. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm

Marine West Marine West Coast Coast

• Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy, Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy, foggy, and damp.foggy, and damp.

• Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.

• Precipitation is evenly distributed Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year.throughout the year.

• Rains a lot throughout the year.Rains a lot throughout the year.

• Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest) Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest)

• London, EnglandLondon, England

Humid SubtropicalHumid Subtropical • Long periods of heat and humidity Long periods of heat and humidity

characterize this climate region.characterize this climate region.• These areas are found on the east coast of These areas are found on the east coast of

continents and are often subject to continents and are often subject to hurricanes in late summer and autumn.hurricanes in late summer and autumn.

• Winters are mild to cool, Winters are mild to cool, depending on latitude. depending on latitude.

• Very suitable for raising Very suitable for raising crops, (rice).crops, (rice).

• Philadelphia, PA & South Philadelphia, PA & South

JerseyJersey

HumidHumid ContinentalContinental

• This climate region experiences a This climate region experiences a variety in temperature and precipitation.variety in temperature and precipitation.

• Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees) Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees) interiors of northern hemisphere continents.interiors of northern hemisphere continents.

• These regions also experience four distinct These regions also experience four distinct seasons.seasons.

• NEPA is located in this climate region.NEPA is located in this climate region.• Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htm

SUBARCTIC SUBARCTIC • Evergreen forests called “TAIGA” Evergreen forests called “TAIGA” cover the lands in this climate region.cover the lands in this climate region.• Huge temperature variations occur between Huge temperature variations occur between

summer and winter.summer and winter.• Summers are short and cool while the winters are Summers are short and cool while the winters are

long & extremely cold.long & extremely cold.• Temperatures at freezing or Temperatures at freezing or

below last five to eight months below last five to eight months of the year.of the year.

• Boreal ForestBoreal Forest

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm

TUNDRA TUNDRA

• Tundra is the flat, treeless lands Tundra is the flat, treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.

• Almost exclusively located in the northern Almost exclusively located in the northern hemispherehemisphere

• Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.• Permanently frozen subsoil called “Permafrost” Permanently frozen subsoil called “Permafrost” • Summer only lasts a few weeks with Summer only lasts a few weeks with

temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm

Ice CapIce Cap

• Snow, ice, and permanently freezing Snow, ice, and permanently freezing temperatures characterize this region.temperatures characterize this region.

• So cold it rarely snows.So cold it rarely snows.• This region is sometimes referred to as a This region is sometimes referred to as a

Polar Desert because it receives less than Polar Desert because it receives less than 10 inches of precipitation per year.10 inches of precipitation per year.

• Coldest temperature = -128.6Coldest temperature = -128.6oo F (Vostok, F (Vostok, Antarctica)Antarctica)

• Found only on the continent of AntarcticaFound only on the continent of Antarctica

HIGHLANDSHIGHLANDS(Alpine)(Alpine)

Highland climates vary depending upon four factors:

1. Latitude

2. Elevation (Altitude)

3. Topography

4. Continental Location

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine.htm

Climate Region Major Characteristics

Tropical HumidTropical Humid Always hot (80o F average) & Always hot (80o F average) &

rains dailyrains daily

Tropical Wet & DryTropical Wet & Dry Rainy season in summer & dry Rainy season in summer & dry

season in winterseason in winter

SemiaridSemiarid About 16” rain per yearAbout 16” rain per year

Arid (Desert)Arid (Desert) Less than 10” rain per year.Less than 10” rain per year.

MediterraneanMediterranean Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy

winters.winters.

Marine West CoastMarine West Coast Northwest United States & Northwest United States &

Western Europe.Western Europe.

Climate Type Major Characteristics

Humid SubtropicalHumid Subtropical Found in SE United States Found in SE United States & subject to hurricanes.& subject to hurricanes.

Humid ContinentalHumid Continental Found in NEPA & Found in NEPA & experiences four seasons.experiences four seasons.

SubarcticSubarctic Evergreen forests dominate Evergreen forests dominate this climate.this climate.

TundraTundra Summers are so short and Summers are so short and cool that permafrost exists.cool that permafrost exists.

Ice CapIce Cap Known as the Polar desertKnown as the Polar desert

Highlands (Alpine)Highlands (Alpine) Climate varies with four Climate varies with four factors.factors.