W - Elevation: 8 m
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Year | |
| Temp. ° C | 25 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 34 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 30 |
| Precip. mm | 8 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 52 |
- The objective is to provide students with a broad knowledge and understanding of the world's major climates as shown below.
- However, detailed reference needs to be made to only one climatic type from either a tropical or a temperate region. (We are studying the Tropical Continental (Savanna) climate in detail.)
-
Describe and compare the distribution of global climates using an atlas e.g. WJEC Atlas
A - Tropical rainy climate - coldest month
above 18*C
B - Dry (desert)
C - Warm temperate rainy climate - coolest month -3*C to 18*C;
warmest month above 10*C
D - Cold boreal forest climate - coldest month -3*C or less;
warmest month 10*C or more.
E - Tundra - warmest month 0 - 10*C
F - Perpetual frozen climate - warmest month less than 0*C.
The choice of specific figures is as follows: 18*C is the critical winter temperature for tropical forests. 10*C is the poleward limit of forest growth. -3*C is generally associated with two or three weeks of snow annually. The climate classification is very much based on vegetation distributions - a world map of vegetation biomes and a world map of climatic regions would show very similar distribution patterns.
There are sub-divisions which are based on rainfall:
f - no dry
season
m - monsoonal (i.e. short dry season and
heavy rains in rest of year)
s - summer dry season
w - winter dry season
For category B (deserts):
h - mean
annual temperature greater than 18*C
k - mean annual temperature less than 18*C
but warmest month above 18*C
k' - mean annual temperature less than 18*C
and warmest month below 18*C
What does region Af mean?
Where is region Af located on the continent? Why is it there?
What does region Bw mean?
Where is region Bw located on the continent? Why is it there?
What does region Aw mean?
Where is region Aw located on the continent? Why is it there?
The
classification is based on maximum and minimum temperatures and the
temperature range as well as the total and seasonal distribution of
precipitation.
Simple summary of climatic zones:
Polar - very cold and dry all
year
Temperate - cold winters and mild summers
Arid - dry, hot all year
Tropical - hot
and wet all year
Mediterranean - mild winters, dry hot summers
Mountains (tundra)
very cold all year
| Climatic Region (Code Letter and name) |
Description of Key Climatic Features | Explanation of Key Climatic Features |
|
|
Temperature monthly mean over 25*C
Temperature monthly mean below 0*C
Total annual rainfall over 2000mm
Monthly rainfall total over 200mm
Total annual rainfall below 500mm
Monthly rainfall total below 40mm
|
What is the annual range of temperature?
Why are all the monthly rainfall totals and therefore also the annual total orange? (Rainfall distribution/seasonality)
How many seasons are there?
|
What is the annual range of temperature?
What do you notice about all the monthly totals of rainfall and therefore also the annual total? (Rainfall distribution/seasonality)
How many seasons are there?
|
What is the annual range of temperature?
What do you notice about the annual rainfall total?
Is there a connection between rainfall and temperature? Why?
What do you notice about rainfall distribution and seasonality.
|
What is the annual range of temperature?
When do the temperatures fall? (Is this a northern hemisphere location?)
What season does rainfall occur in? How many seasons are there?
|
What is the annual range of temperature and what is the annual mean temperature? Is this an equable climate?
Describe the annual rainfall distribution.
Is this a northern hemisphere station?
|
What is the annual range of temperature and what is the annual mean temperature? Is this an extreme climate?
Describe the seasonality of the rainfall.
Suggest what might cause this rainfall distribution?
|
What is the annual range of temperature and what is the annual mean temperature? Is this an equable climate?
Describe the seasonality of the rainfall. When do the 8 months of relatively low rainfall occur and when do the 4 wetter months occur?
|
Is this an equable or an extreme climate? (Calculate the annual range to help your decision)
What do you notice about the rainfall distribution?
Suggest what sort of rainfall may occur in its warmest season?
|
Calculate annual range of temperature? What sort of climate dos this suggest - equable or extreme?
Compare the temperature pattern to Place V and to Place U.
Describe the rainfall distribution and comment on the rainfall total?