Climate Zones
Climate Zones
Climate Zones
5. Polar Climates
- Tundra
- Icecap
6. Highlands Climate
Stuff About Climographs
• Temperature is plotted
as a line graph joining
the 12 months of the
year.
• Precipitation is shown
as a series of bars, one
for each month.
1. Tropical Climates
• All Tropical Climates
Temperatures over 18 0C
every day due to low latitude
and warm ocean currents and
prevailing winds blowing
from equatorial region.
• Mediterranean
• Limited to the
Mediterranean Sea area.
• Marine West Coast
• Is located further from • Subtropical
the equator. • East coast of continents.
• Is warmed by warm • Close to the tropics.
ocean currents.
Temperate Mild Winter Climographs
• Summer temperatures vary, but winter months (even the
coldest month) are warmer than –3 oC.
Marine West
Coast
4. Temperate Cold Winter Climates
• Summer temperatures vary, but some winter months are colder
than –3 oC. Only occurs in the Northern Hemisphere
Continental
Warm Summer
5. Polar Climates
• Short summer season.
• Small amounts of precipitation.
Tundra: Summer
temperatures are
never above 10 oC.
6. HIGHLANDS
(Alpine)
Due to elevation and involves areas
higher than 1000 m.
Highland climates vary depending on a
combination of four factors:
1. Latitude
2. Elevation (Altitude)
3. Topography
4. Continental Location
Remember: 2°C decrease/300m increase
2.7.2 Patterns of Climatic Zones
• Globally speaking, where is each climatic zone
concentrated?
1. Tropical?
2. Dry?
3. Temperate?
4. Polar?
5. Highlands?
Answers
• Tropical = Near the equator and between 23.5 º N and S
(i.e. Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn). The
Tropical Wet and Dry sub-region is farther from the
equator from the Tropic Wet sub-region.
• Dry (Desert or Arid) = Between 10 º and 30 º N and S.
Also, on the west coasts of continents and on the leeward
side of mountains.
• Dry (Semi-Arid or Steppe) = Between the Tropical Wet
and Dry sub-region and the dry Desert or Arid sub-region.
• Temperate Mild Winter = Found in the mid-latitudes or
on seas or ocean coasts. Mediterranean = West coasts of
continents and in areas around the Mediterranean Sea.
Subtropical = East coasts of continents. Marine West
Coast = West coasts of continents, but at higher latitudes.
Answers
• Temperate Cold Winter = Mid-latitudes similar to
temperate mild winter; however, it is more continental
(meaning farther inland). Subarctic sub-region = Between
50 and 70 º N.
• Polar = Located north and south of 60 º. Tundra = Closer
to oceans. Icecaps = Farther inland.
• Highlands = Due to elevation and involves areas higher
than 1000 m.
2.7.2 Practice
• Do Question #2 on page 75 (Part A Only).
Georgetown, Guyana – Tropical Wet
• Do Question #2 on page 75
(Part D Only).
• Montreal = Temperate Cold
Winter
• Alice Springs = Semi-Arid or
Steppe
Page 77 – Sites A, B, and C
• Site C = Singapore = Tropical Wet
• Flat and high temperature line.
• Rainfall is heavy all year long.
• Site B = Toronto = Continent, Cool Summer
(Temperate Cold Winter)
• High temperature range.
• Coldest winter month is below -3 º C.
• Site A = New Zealand = Marine West Coast
(Temperate Mild Winter)
• Warm winters.
• Precipitation in both winter and summer.
Random Questions
• What is the most widespread climatic zone in the low
latitudes?
• What are two climatic zones that have dry conditions for
most of the year?
• Which climatic zone is most widespread in North Africa?
• Which continents do not experience continental climates
(3)?
• What climate zone represents St. John’s, Newfoundland?