CLIMATE

Climate Weather: is the condition of the atmosphere at a given place and time. Climate: weather conditions in an area averaged over a long period of time Major global climate types are classified by temperature, precipitation, elevation and latitude

Koppen Classification

Rain concentrated in one very wet season is called the monsoon. Low Latitude Climates Low Latitude Climates: Areas close to the equator that have warm temperatures and a large amount of rainfall Rain concentrated in one very wet season is called the monsoon.

Dry Climates Dry Climates: Most deserts are centered around 30° north and south of the equator

Middle-Latitude Climates Mediterranean: mild winter with hot dry summers Humid-subtropical climate: summers are hot and humid with mild winters

Middle-Latitude Climates Marine-west coast: coastal climate that supports evergreen forests Humid-continental climate: four distinct seasons, extreme differences between summer and winter

High-Latitude Climates Sub-arctic climate: long, dark, & cold winters with short summers Tundra climate: freezing temperatures almost all year around Polar ice-cap climate: extremely cold temperatures all year round

AIR PRESSURE AND WIND Unit 1

Air Pressure and Wind High pressure: warm air that expands and rises Low pressure: air cools, water vapor condenses to form clouds Wind is the horizontal motion of air Wind always flows from high to low pressure areas

Global Wind Belts Trade Winds: blow from subtropical toward the equator Doldrums: Calm areas around the equator Westerlies: west to east winds Polar Winds: cold air from the east

Water and Atmosphere Most water in the air is evaporated from the oceans Evaporation: water changed from liquid to gas Humidity: the amount of water vapor in the air Condensation: water vapor changes from gas to liquid Precipitation: large condensed droplets of water

The Hydrologic Cycle

Storms Stormy weather occurs when two air masses with extremely different temperatures collide