Chapter 3 – Weather & Climate

World Climate Regions

1. Tropical Humid 7. Humid Subtropical
2. Tropical Wet & Dry 8. Humid Continental
3. Arid (Desert) 9. Subarctic
4. Semiarid 10. Tundra
5. Mediterranean 11. Ice Cap
6. Marine West Coast 12. Highland (Alpine)
 Tropical Humid
• Little variation in temperature over the year.
• It is always hot with a daily average temperature of 80
degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rains on a daily basis and yearly average rainfall is usually
more than 80 inches.
• Found in Central and South America, as well as
Africa ,South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and Indonesia .
• Associated with Rainforests and Jungles.
• Found along the Equator or areas close to the Equator.
• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
 Tropical
Wet & Dry
• This sub region has a rainy
season in the summer and a dry
season in winter.
• Temperatures are cooler in the dry season.
• Yearly rainfall is less than a Tropical Humid Climate.
• Tropical Wet & Dry climates are found next to tropical humid
climates in Africa, South & Central America, and parts of Asia.
• The Savannah of Africa is a prime example.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm
 ARID(DESERT)
• Deserts are categorized by the amount annual
rainfall received.
• Deserts receive less than 10 inches of rainfall
per year.
• Hot deserts (Sahara) have low humidity and
high temperatures during the day. At night the
temperature falls because the dry air cannot
hold heat well.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm
 Semiarid
• This sub-region does not receive much
precipitation at all – Usually about 16 inches per
year.
• Summers are hot and winters are mild to cold.
• This climate is located in the interior of
continents, or in a zone around deserts.
• Much of the American west falls into this climate
type.
 Mediterranean
• Primarily found surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea.
• Summers are dry and hot while winters
are cool and rainy.
• Supports a dense human population and
rich agricultural activity.
• Many of the first great human
civilizations thrived in this climate.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm
 Marine West Coast

• Located close to the oceans and is frequently cloudy,

foggy, and damp.
• Warm ocean waters off the coast moderates and keeps
temperatures relatively constant throughout the year.
• Precipitation is evenly distributed
throughout the year.
• Rains a lot throughout the year.
• Seattle, WA (Pacific Northwest)
• London, England
 Humid Subtropical
• Long periods of heat and humidity characterize
this climate region.
• These areas are found on the east coast of
continents and are often subject to hurricanes in
late summer and autumn.
• Winters are mild to cool,
depending on latitude.
• Very suitable for raising
crops, (rice).
• Philadelphia, PA & South
Jersey
 Humid
Continental
• This climate region experiences a
variety in temperature and
precipitation.
• Mostly found in mid-latitude (40’s to 50 degrees)
interiors of northern hemisphere continents.
• These regions also experience four distinct seasons.
• NEPA is located in this climate region.
• Deciduous Forests thrive in this climate.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htm
SUBARCTIC
• Evergreen forests called “TAIGA”
cover the lands in this climate region.
• Huge temperature variations occur between
summer and winter.
• Summers are short and cool while the winters are
long & extremely cold.
• Temperatures at freezing or
below last five to eight months of
the year.
• Boreal Forest
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm
 TUNDRA

• Tundra is the flat, treeless

lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean.
• Almost exclusively located in the northern
hemisphere
• Very little rainfall – less than 15 inches/year.
• Permanently frozen subsoil called “Permafrost”
• Summer only lasts a few weeks with
temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm
 Ice Cap
• Snow, ice, and permanently freezing
temperatures characterize this region.
• So cold it rarely snows.
• This region is sometimes referred to as a Polar
Desert because it receives less than 10 inches of
precipitation per year.
o
• Coldest temperature = -128.6 F (Vostok,
Antarctica)
• Found only on the continent of Antarctica
 HIGHLANDS
(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 Humid Always hot (80o F average) &

rains daily

Tropical Wet & Dry Rainy season in summer & dry

season in winter

Semiarid About 16” rain per year

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

Mediterranean Hot, dry summers & cool, rainy

 Climate Type Major Characteristics

Humid Subtropical Found in SE United States

& subject to hurricanes.
Humid Continental Found in NEPA &
experiences four seasons.
Subarctic Evergreen forests dominate
this climate.
Tundra Summers are so short and
cool that permafrost exists.
Ice Cap Known as the Polar desert

Highlands (Alpine) Climate varies with four

factors.