PREPARED BY TROY M. KIMMEL, JR.
LECTURER, STUDIES IN WEATHER AND CLIMATE
MANAGER, WEATHER AND CLIMATE RESOURCE CENTER
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
"A" CLIMATES - TROPICAL / HOT
Af: TROPICAL RAINFOREST
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY
TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-DRIEST MONTH WITH AT
LEAST 6CM/2.40" OF PRECIPITATION
-LOCATIONS:
AMAZON RIVER BASIN (SOUTH AMERICA)
CONGO RIVER BASIN (AFRICA)
EASTERN COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA
EASTERN COAST OF BRAZIL PHILIPPINES
EASTERN COAST OF MADAGASCAR EASTERN INDIA
SOUTHERN BANGLADESH MALAYSIA
INDONESIA
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
HIGH YEAR AROUND INSOLATION/PRECIPITATION RESULT OF ITCZ/DOLDRUMS
RISING AIR ALONG TRADE WIND COASTS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
CONSTANT HIGH TEMPERATURES
EQUAL LENGTH DAY AND NIGHT
LOWEST ANNUAL AVERAGE TEMP RANGES (2-3C/3-5F)
OCEAN ISLAND/CENTRAL PACIFIC HAS O DEGREE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGE!
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED HVY ANNL PCPN (AVG 250CM/100"; EXTREME UP TO 500CM/250")
HIGH AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER AND HUMIDITY YEAR AROUND
Aw: TROPICAL WET-DRY (LOW SUN DRY) - SAVANNA
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY
TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-MORE THAN 2 MONTHS
HAVE LESS THAN 6CM/2.40" PRECIPITATION
DISTINCT DRY SEASON DURING LOW SUN SEASON (WINTER); DISTINCT WET
SEASON
HIGH SUN SEASON (SUMMER)
-LOCATIONS:
GENERALLY POLEWARD OF Af CLIMATE AREAS
NORTHERN AND EASTERN INDIA
INTERIOR MYANMAR (BURMA)
INDO-CHINESE PENINSULA
NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
BORDERLANDS OF CONGO RIVER BASIN (AFRICA)
SOUTH CENTRAL AFRICA
WESTERN CENTRAL AMERICA
LLANOS OF VENEZUELA & CAMPOS OF BRAZIL (SAVANNA)
EXTREME SOUTHERN FLORIDA
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
ALTERNATION BETWEEN HIGH SUN ITCZ/DOLDRUMS AND LOW SUN SUBTROPICAL
HIGHS AND TRADES CAUSED BY SHIFTING WINDS AND PRESSURE BELTS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
DISTINCT HIGH-SUN WET AND LOW-SUN DRY SEASONS
RAINFALL AVGS 75-130CM/30-70" (RANGES FROM 180CM/70" RAINFOREST MARGINS..
100CM/39" DRIER MARGINS
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE RANGES OF "A" CLIMATE FAMILY
As: TROPICAL WET-DRY (HIGH SUN DRY) - SAVANNA
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY
TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-MORE THAN 2 MONTHS
HAVE LESS THAN 6CM/2.40" PRECIPITATION
DISTINCT DRY SEASON DURING HIGH SUN SEASON (SUMMER) - VERY RARE CLIMATE
-LOCATIONS:
EXTREME EASTERN TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA (BRAZIL)
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
OCEANIC INFLUENCE RESULTS IN THIS RARE CLIMATE TYPE
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
DISTINCT HIGH SUN DRY AND LOW SUN WET SEASONS
RAINFALL AVGS 75-130CM/30-70" (RANGES FROM 180CM/70" RAINFOREST MARGINS..
100CM/39" DRIER MARGINS
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE RANGES OF "A" CLIMATE FAMILY
Am: TROPICAL MONSOON
-ALL AVERAGE MONTHLY
TEMPS GREATER THAN 18C/64.4F
-ONE OR MORE MONTHS
LESS THAN 6CM/2.40" PRECIPITATION
-EXCESSIVELY WET DURING
RAINY SEASON (VERY PRONOUNCED WET SEASON)
-LOCATIONS:
COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN INDIA
SRI LANKA
BANGLADESH
MYANMAR (BURMA)
SOUTHWESTERN AFRICA
GUYANA
SURINAM
FRENCH GUIANA
PARTS OF NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST BRAZIL
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
SUMMER ONSHORE, WINTER OFFSHORE AIR MOVEMENT RELATED TO SHIFTING ITCZ
AND CHANGING PRESSURE CONDITIONS OVER LARGE LANDMASSES
TRANSITIONAL BETWEEN Af AND Aw TO SOME DEGREE
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERICS:
OUTSIDE OF HAWAII, HEAVIEST RAINFALL RECORDS IN WORLD EXIST IN THIS
CLIMATE
CHERRIPUNJI, INDIA - 476" RAIN IN YEAR (40 FEET OF RAIN!!)
HEAVY HIGH-SUN RAINFALL (ESPECIALLY W/OROGRAPHIC LIFT)
VERY SHORT LOW SUN (WINTER) DROUGHT
ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGE OF 2-6C/3-10F
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE ANNUALLY JUST PRIOR TO RAINY SEASON
PRECIPITATION WIDELY RANGES FROM BETWEEN 150-400CM/60-150" ANNUALLY
"B" CLIMATES - ARID/SEMIARID
BWh: DRY/ARID (HOT) - LOW LATITUDE DESERTS
-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS
PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE
PRECIPITATION IS LESS THAN HALF OF POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-USUALLY LOWER
LATITUDE, HOT DESERT CLIMATE
-MEAN AVERAGE
TEMP IS OVER 18C/64.4F; FROST ABSENT OR INFREQUENT WINTER
-LOCATIONS:
NORTHERN MEXICO/SOUTHWESTERN USA/BAJA CALIFORNIA
NORTHERN AFRICA/SAUDI ARABIA/IRAN/WESTERN INDIA
CENTRAL/WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AFRICA
-DESERTS:
SAHARA DESERT
SONORIAN DESERT
ARABIAN DESERT
THAR DESERT (WESTERN INDIA & PAKISTAN)
AUSTRALIAN DESERT
KALAHARI DESERT
BWk: DRY/ARID (COOL) - MIDDLE LATITUDE DESERTS
-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS
PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE
PRECIPITATION IS LESS THAN HALF OF POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-USUALLY MID-LATITUDE,
COOLER DESERT CLIMATE
-MEAN AVERAGE
TEMP IS BELOW 18C/64.4F; BELOW FREEZING TEMPS WINTER
-LOCATIONS:
CASPIAN SEA EASTWARD TO NORTHERN CHINA & MONGOLIA
PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA
-DESERTS:
RUSSIAN TURKESTAN DESERT
TAKLA MAKAN DESERT
GOBI DESERT
MOHAVE DESERT
APPLIES TO BOTH BWk & BWh:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
DESCENDING, DIVERGING CIRCULATION OF SUBTROPICAL HIGHS
CONTINENTALITY OFTEN LINKED WITH RAIN SHADOW LOCATIONS
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
ARIDITY, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
IRREGULAR AND UNRELIABLE RAINFALL LESS THAN 25CM/10"..OFTEN MUCH LESS
GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF SUNSHINE OF ALL CLIMATE TYPES
HIGHEST DIURNAL (DAY TO NIGHT) TEMPERATURE RANGES OF ALL CLIMATES
HIGHEST DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES OF ALL CLIMATE TYPES
WINDY & BREEZY CONDITIONS
BSh: SEMI-ARID, STEPPE (HOT)
-EVAPORATION EXCEEDS
PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE
PRECIPITATION IS MORE THAN HALF BUT LESS THAN POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-STEPPE/GRASSLAND/BUNCH
GRASSES (WEST TEXAS NORTHWARD)
-MEAN AVERAGE
TEMP IS OVER 18C/64.4F
-LOCATIONS:
APPROXIMATELY 13-15 DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE IN AFRICA - SOUTHERN BORDER
OF ARID CLIMATE
20 DEGREES SOUTH LATITUDE SOUTHERN AFRICA
BORDERLANDS AUSTRALIAN DESERT
PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA
PORTIONS OF INDIA
BORDERS BWh CLIMATES OF NORTHWESTERN AFRICA, SAUDI ARABIA, WESTERN INDIA
BSk: SEMI-ARID, STEPPE (COOL)
-EVAPORATION
EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE
PRECIPITATION IS MORE THAN HALF BUT LESS THAN POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-USUALLY
MID-LATITUDE, STEPPE/GRASSLAND/BUNCH GRASSES (MONTANA SOUTH)
-MEAN AVERAGE
TEMP IS BELOW 18C/64.4F
-LOCATIONS:
WESTERN GREAT PLAINS OF USA & SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA
BORDERS BWh AREAS CASPIAN SEA EASTWARD TO CHINA/MONGOLIA
APPLIES TO BOTH BSh & BSk:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
SAME AS DESERTS..USUALLY TRANSITIONAL BETWEEN DESERTS AND HUMID CLIMATES.
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
SEMIARID CONDITIONS, ANNUAL RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION SIMILAR TO NEAREST HUMID
CLIMATE W/PRECIPITATION BETWEEN 25-50CM/10-20"
TEMPERATURES GREATLY VARY W/LATITUDE, ELEVATION & CONTINENTALITY
"C" CLIMATES - SUBTROPICAL
Cwa: HUMID SUBTROPICAL - WARM WITH DISTINCTLY
DRY WINTER
-AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH AVERAGES OVER 22C/72F
-AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE -3C/26.6F
-WINTER
DROUGHT; AT LEAST 10 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING WETTEST SUMMER
MONTH AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH.
Cfa: HUMID SUBTROPICAL - EAST COASTS
-AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF WARMEST MONTH AVERAGES OVER 22C/72F
-AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE -3C/26.6F
-YEAR AROUND
RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION
APPLIES TO BOTH Cwa & Cfa:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
EAST COASTAL LOCATIONS BETWEEN 20 & 40 DEGREES NORTH & SOUTH
LATITUDE
HUMID, ONSHORE AIR MOVEMENT IN SUMMER, CYCLONIC STORMS IN WINTER
-LOCATIONS:
SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES (FLORIDA NORTHWARD TO NORTH CAROLINA AND
WESTWARD THROUGH ALL OF OKLAHOMA, EXCEPT PANHANDLE, AS WELL AS
CENTRAL AND EAST TEXAS)
SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH AMERICA
COASTAL SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH AFRICA
EASTERN AUSTRALIA
EASTERN ASIA (FROM NORTHERN INDIA THROUGH SOUTHERN CHINA TO SOUTHERN
JAPAN
WHICH IS Cwa - DRY/WET MONSOONAL)
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
HIGH HUMIDITY
SUMMER ARE MUCH LIKE HUMID TROPICS
FROST WITH POLAR AIR MASSES IN WINTER
PRECIPITATION HIGHLY VARIABLE; 65-250CM/25-100" YEARLY..DECREASES INLAND
MONSOONAL INFLUENCE (Cwa) ONLY FOUND IN ASIA
Csa: HUMID SUBTROPICAL (MEDITERRANEAN)
-WARM WITH
DISTINCTLY DRY HOT SUMMER W/STRONG CONTINENTAL INFLUENCE
-AVERAGE
TEMP OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE -3C/26.6F
-AT LEAST
3 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING WETTEST WINTER MONTH AS IN DRIEST
SUMMER MONTH (PRECIPITATION IN DRIEST SUMMER MONTH LESS THAN 4CM/1.56")
-WARMEST
MONTH HAS AVERAGE TEMP OVER 22C/71.6F; AT LEAST 4 MONTHS HAVE AVERAGE
TEMPS OVER 10C/50F
Csb: HUMID SUBTROPICAL (MEDITERRANEAN)
-COOL WITH
DISTINCTLY DRY COOL SUMMER W/STRONG MARITIME INFLUENCE
-AVERAGE
TEMP OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE -3C/26.6F
-AT LEAST
3 TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING WETTEST WINTER MONTH AS IN DRIEST
SUMMER MONTH (PRECIPITATION IN DRIEST SUMMER MONTH LESS THAN 4CM/1.56")
-NO MONTH
WITH AVERAGE TEMP OVER 22C/71.6F; AT LEAST 4 MONTHS HAVE AVERAGE TEMPS
OVER 10C/50F
APPLIES TO BOTH Csa & Csb:
-LOCATIONS:
CENTRAL, COASTAL AREAS OF CALIFORNIA
CENTRAL, COASTAL CHILE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA BORDERLANDS
IRANIAN HIGHLANDS
CAPETOWN AREA OF SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTHERN AND SOUTHWESTERN AREAS OF AUSTRALIA
-CONTROLLING
FACTORS:
WEST COAST LOCATIONS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 N & S LATITUDES
ALTERNATION BETWEEN SUBTROPICAL HIGHS IN SUMMER AND WESTERLIES IN
WINTER
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
MILD, MOIST WINTERS & HOT, DRY SUMMERS (INLAND AREAS) AND FOGGY, COOLER
COASTS
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SUNSHINE
HIGH SUMMER DIURNAL RANGE (RANGE BETWEEN HIGH & LOW TEMPERATURES
OF DAY)
FROST DANGER IN WINTER SEASON
Cfb: MARINE WEST COAST - MILD
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF ALL MONTHS IS BELOW 22C/71.6C
-AT LEAST 4 MONTHS
WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 10C/50F
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE -3C/26.6C
-RAINFALL EQUALLY
SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
Cfc: MARINE WEST COAST - COOL
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF ALL MONTHS IS BELOW 22C/71.6C
-1 TO 3 MONTHS WITH
AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 10C/50F
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS UNDER 18C/64.4F AND ABOVE -3C/26.6F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY SPREAD
THROUGHOUT YEAR
APPLIES TO BOTH Cfb & Cfc:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
-WEST COAST LOCATION
(AROUND YEAR INFLUENCE OF THE WESTERLIES)
-WARM OCEAN CURRENTS
ALONG MOST OF THE COASTS
-LOCATIONS:
COASTAL OREGON, WASHINGTON, BRITISH COLUMB AND SOUTHERN ALASKA
NORTHWEST EUROPE
SOUTHERN CHILE
INTERIOR SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
MILD WINTERS AND MILD SUMMERS WITH LOW ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGE
HEAVY CLOUD COVER
HIGH HUMIDITY
FREQUENT CYCLONIC STORMS WITH PROLONGED RAIN, DRIZZLE OR FOG
3 TO 4 MONTH FROST PERIOD DURING THE WINTER SEASON
"D" CLIMATES - TEMPERATE
Dfa: HUMID CONTINENTAL HOT SUMMERS W/YEAR AROUND
PRECIPITATION
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY
SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
Dwa: HUMID CONTINENTAL HOT SUMMERS W/DRY WINTERS
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-WINTERS DRY;
AT LEAST TEN TIMES AS MUCH PRECIPITATION DURING THE WETTEST SUMMER
MONTH
AS IN THE DRIEST WINTER MONTH
APPLIES TO BOTH Dfa & Dwa:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATION IN THE LOWER MIDDLE LATITUDES (35 TO 45 DEGREES)
CYCLONIC STORMS ALONG THE POLAR FRONT
PREVAILING WESTERLIES
CONTINENTALITY PREVAILS
POLAR ANTICYCLONE IN WINTER (RESULTS IN Dwa CLIMATE TYPE) - HIGH CONTINENTALITY
-LOCATIONS:
EASTERN AND MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES (ATLANTIC COAST TO THE 100TH
MERIDIAN
POLEWARD OF THE "C" CLIMATE TYPE)
EAST CENTRAL EUROPE
NORTHERN CHINA, MANCHURIA, NORTHERN KOREA, AND HONSHU
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
HOT, OFTEN HUMID SUMMERS; OCCASIONAL WINTER COLD WAVES
RATHER LARGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGES
GREAT WEATHER VARIABILITY ON ESPECIALLY YEARLY BASIS
PRECIPITATION 50-115CM/20-45" ANNUALLY DECREASING INLAND AND POLEWARD
AN APPROXIMATE 140-200 DAY GROWING SEASON
Dfb: HUMID CONTINENTAL MILD SUMMER WITH YEAR
AROUND RAINFALL
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-NO MONTH WITH
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OVER 22C/71.6F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY
SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
Dwb: HUMID CONTINENTAL MILD SUMMER WITH DRY
WINTERS
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-NO MONTH WITH
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OVER 22C/71.6F
-AT LEAST 10 TIMES
AS MUCH PRECIPITATION IS THE WETTEST SUMMER MONTH AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH
APPLIES TO BOTH Dfb & Dwb:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATIONS IN THE MID-LATITUDES (45 TO 55 DEGREES)
CYCLONIC STORMS ALONG THE POLAR FRONT
PREVAILING WESTERLIES
CONTINENTALITY PREVAILS
POLAR ANTICYCLONE IN WINTER (RESULTS IN Dwb CLIMATE TYPE)
-LOCATIONS:
NEW ENGLAND, THE GREAT LAKES REGION, AND SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA
SOUTHEASTERN SCANDINAVIA
EASTERN EUROPE
WEST CENTRAL ASIA
EASTERN MANCHURIA & ASIA
HOKKAIDO
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
MODERATE SUMMERS
LONG WINTERS WITH FREQUENT SPELLS OF CLEAR, COLD WEATHER
LARGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGES
VARIABLE WEATHER W/ LESS TOTAL PPRECIPITATION THAN AREAS SOUTH
AN APPROXIMATE 90-130 DAY GROWING SEASON
Dfc: SUBARCTIC WITH COOL SUMMERS AND YEAR AROUND
RAINFALL
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH IS -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-1 TO 3 MONTHS
WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ABOVE 10C/50F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY
SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
Dfd: SUBARCTIC WITH COLD WINTERS AND YEAR AROUND
RAINFALL
-COLDEST MONTH
HAS AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -38C/-36.4F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-RAINFALL EQUALLY
SPREAD THROUGHOUT YEAR
Dwc: SUBARCTIC WITH COOL SUMMERS AND DRY WINTERS
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF COLDEST MONTH OF -3C/26.6F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-1 TO 3 MONTHS
WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ABOVE 10C/50F
-AT LEAST 10 TIMES
AS MUCH PRECIPITATION IN THE WETTEST SUMMER MONTH AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH
Dwd: SUBARCTIC WITH COLD WINTERS AND DRY WINTERS
-COLDEST MONTH
HAS AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -38C/-36.4F OR BELOW
-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF WARMEST MONTH IS GREATER THAN 10C/50F
-AT LEAST 10 TIMES
AS MUCH PRECIPITATION IN THE WETTEST SUMMER MONTH AS IN DRIEST WINTER MONTH
APPLIES TO Dfc, Dwc, Dfd & Dwd:
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATION IN THE HIGHER MIDDLE LATITUDE (50 TO 70 DEGREES)
WESTERLIES IN SUMMER
STRONG POLAR ANTICYCLONE IN WINTER (CREATES Dwc & Dwd CLIMATE TYPES)
OCCASIONAL CYCLONIC STORMS
EXTREME CONTINENTALITY
-LOCATIONS:
NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA (FROM NEWFOUNDLAND TO ALASKA)
NORTHERN EURASIA (FROM SCANDINAVIA THROUGH SIBERIA TO THE BERING
SEA AND THE SEA OF OKHOTSK)
-DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
BRIEF, COOL SUMMERS AND LONG, BITTERLY COLD WINTERS
LARGEST ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RANGES
LOWEST TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE OF ANTARCTICA
LOW PRECIPITATION OF 25-50CM/10-20" ANNUALLY
UNRELIABLE 50-80 DAY GROWING SEASON
PERMAFROST COMMON
"E" CLIMATES - POLAR
ET: TUNDRA CLIMATE
-AVERAGE TEMP
OF WARMEST MONTH IS BELOW 10C/50F BUT IS GREATER THAN 0C/32F
-PRECIPITATION
EXCEEDS POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-LOCATIONS:
ARCTIC OCEAN BORDERLANDS OF NORTH AMERICA, GREENLAND AND EURASIA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
SOME POLAR ISLANDS
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATION IN HIGH LATITUDES
SUBSIDENCE AND DIVERGENCE OF THE POLAR ANTICYCLONE
PROXIMITY TO COASTS
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
SUMMERLESS, AT LEAST 9 MONTHS AVERAGE BELOW FREEZING
VERY LOW EVAPORATION
PRECIPITATION USUALLY BELOW 25.5CM/10"
COASTAL FOG
STRONG WINDS
EF: ICECAP CLIMATE
-AVERAGE
TEMP OF WARMEST MONTH IS 0C/32F OR BELOW
-PRECIPITATION
EXCEEDS POTENTIAL EVAPORATION
-LOCATIONS:
INTERIOR GREENLAND
MOST OF ANTARCTICA (EXCEPT ANTARCTIC PENINSULA)
PERMANENTLY FROZEN PORTIONS OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN AND
ASSOCIATED ISLANDS
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
LOCATIONS IN HIGH LATITUDES AND INTERIORS OF LANDMASSES
YEAR-AROUND INFLUENCE OF THE POLAR ANTICYCLONE
ICE COVER
ELEVATION OF ICE DOME
-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
SUMMERLESS, ALL MONTHS AVERAGE BELOW FREEZING
WORLD'S COLDEST TEMPERATURES
EXTREMELY MEAGER PRECIPITATION IN FORM OF SNOW, EVAPORATION EVEN LESS
"H" CLIMATES - HIGHLAND AREAS
H: HIGHLAND CLIMATE
-DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS
AREAS, CAN ENCOMPASS ANY OF THE ABOVE CLIMATE CLASSIFICATIONS
-VERY COMPLEX
AND TIGHT KNIT CLIMATIC ZONE.
-TEMPERATURE DECREASE
WITH INCREASING ALTITUDE = AVG 3.6F/1000FT
-ZONES OF CLIMATE
IN HIGHLAND REGIONS BASED ON CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE WITH ELEVATION THAT
ROUGHLY COORESPOND TO KOPPENS CLIMATIC ZONES BASED ON THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE
WITH LATITUDE...WITH ONE IMPORTANT EXCEPTION...SEASONS ONLY EXIST
IN HIGHLANDS IF THEY
ALSO EXIST IN THE NEARBY LOWLAND REGIONS. (EXAMPLE: ALTHOUGH ZONES
OF INCREASINGLY
COOLER TEMPERATURES OCCUR AT PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE TROPICAL
REGIONS ("A" CLIMATES), THE SEASONAL CHANGES OF KOPPENS "C", "D" AND "E"
CLIMATES
ARE NOT PRESENT.
-CONTROLLING FACTORS:
ELEVATION
EXPOSURE
TMK
03JUL00