Geography 316: Biogeography

Lecture from (Lecture 09/18/02)

CLIMATES
I.   Definition
II.  Global processes
           high pressure
           low pressure
III. Global wind patterns
IV.  Ocean currents
V.   Precipitation Types
VI.  Climatic classification
             General
             Revised Koeppen

Climate:  long term weather conditions at a given place.
example: mean annual temperature
                mean annual precipitation

Global circulation:

 

Some General Climate Classification

Greeks (1-2 B.C.)
 Temperate Zone
 Torrid Zone
 Frigid Zone

Then.....
 Arctic
 Frigid
 Temperate
 Torrid
 ITCZ

Now.....
 Equatorial Warm Wet
 Tropical Hot/Dry
 Subtropical Warm Temperate
 Mid latitude Cool Temperate
 High Latitude Cold (Polar)

Some global classifying locations:
Tropics: 23 1 /2^oN to 23 1/2^oS
SubTropics: 23 1/2^oN -- 35^oN,  23 1/2^o S -- 35^oS
Midlatitudes: 35^oN -- 55^oN, 35^oS -- 55^oS
Polar (High Latitudes):  55^oN -- 90^oN, 55^oS -- 90^oS

Koeppen Climate Classification

 Low Latitude Climates (A)
  Af (Tropical Rain forest)
  Am (Monsoon)
  Aw (Savanna)

  Low Latitude Climates (B)
  BSh (Low Latitude Steppe)
  BWh (Low Latitude Desert)
  BSk (Mid Latitude Steppe)
  BWk (Mid Latitude Desert)

 Mid Latitude Climates (C)
  Csa/Csb (Mediterranean)
  Cfb/Cfc (Marine West Coast)
  Cfa (Humid Subtropical)
  Cwa/Cwb (Subtropical Monsoons)

 High Latitude Climates (D)
  Dfa/Dwa (Humid Continental, Long Summer)
  Dfb/Dwb (Humid Continental, Short Summer)
  Dfc/Dwc and Dfd/Dwd (Subarctic)

  Polar Climates (E)
  ET (Tundra)
  EF (Ice Cap)

  Mountain Climates (H)