Chapter 2:   WEATHER STUDIES

 

 

VARIOUS CLIMATES OF THE WORLD

 

QUIZ

 

 

VARIOUS CLIMATES OF THE WORLD

 

1. Equatorial Climate    

 

Climograph of Equatorial Areas (S. America)

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • South-east Asia

  • Amazon Basin, South America

  • Zaire or Congo Basin, Africa

 

 Characteristics

  • Constant high temperatures

  • 'Equal' day length

  • Lowest annual range of temperature

  • Heavy and evenly distributed rainfall

  • High cloud cover and humidity

 

 
 
 

2. Tropical Monsoon Climate           [Back to top]

 

Climograph of Tropical Monsoon Areas (India)

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • South-west India

  • Sri Lanka

  • Bangladesh

  • Myanmar

  • Thailand

 

 Characteristics

  • Highest temperatures just before rainy season

  • Rainy season from June to September

 

 

 

3. Desert Climate           [Back to top]

 

Climograph of Desert Areas (Algeria)

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • Coastal Chile and Peru

  • Southwest Africa

  • Iran

  • Pakistan

 

 Characteristics

  • Among the driest place on earth

  • Low relative humidity

  • Highest percentage of sunshine of any climate

  • Large diurnal range of temperature

  • Irregular and unreliable rainfall

  • Low annual precipitation

 
 

 

4. Temperate Climates

 

(i) Mediterranean Climate           [Back to top]

 

Climograph of Temperate Areas (San Francisco, N. America)

 

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • Central California

  • Central Chile

  • Capetown area of South Africa

  • Southwestern Australia

 

 Characteristics

  • Hot dry summers

  • Mild wet winters

  • High summer diurnal temperature range

  • Frost danger during winter

  • Moderate annual precipitation

  • High percentage of sunshine

 

 

(ii) Moist Continental Climate           [Back to top]

 

Climograph of Temperate Areas (Chicago, N. America)

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • East Central Europe

  • Northern China

  • Northern Korea

 

 Characteristics

 

Warm summer subtypes:

  • Hot humid summers

  • Large annual temperature ranges

Cool summer subtypes:

  • Moderate summers

  • Long cold winters

  • Large annual temperature ranges

  • Less precipitation than warm summer subtypes

 

 

 Cold Polar Climates

 

(i) Tundra           [Back to top]

 

Climograph of Polar Areas (Alaska)

 

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • Greenland

  • Eurasia

  • Antarctic Peninsulas

 

 Characteristics

  • 'Summerless'

  • 9 months with temperatures below freezing point (0°C)

 
 

 

(ii) Ice Cap           [Back to top]

 

Climograph of Polar Areas (Antarctica)

 

 

 Geographic Distribution

  • Antarctica

  • Interior Greenland

 

 Characteristics

  • 'Summerless'

  • All months below freezing point

  • World's coldest temperatures

  • Extremely small amounts of precipitation

  • Windy

 
 

 

  Resources:
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/uwsp_lectures/climates_toc.html