chapter 10

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

the consistent, long-term behaviour of weather over time, including its variability; in contrast to weather, which is the condition of the atmosphere at any given place and time

Question 2

Climatology

Answer 2

the scientific study of climate and climatic patterns and the consistent behaviour of weather, including its variability and extremes, over time in one place or region; includes the effects of climate change on human society and culture

Question 3

Climate region

Answer 3

an area of homogenous climate that features characteristic regional weather and air mass patterns

Question 4

Biogeography

Answer 4

the science that describe distinct regions of broadly similar flora (plants) and fauna (animals)

Question 5

Ecozone

Answer 5

(sometimes called A biogeographic realm) is a geographic region where a group of associated plant and animal species evolved

Question 6

Classification

Answer 6

the process of ordering or grouping data or phenomena in related classes; results in a regular distribution of information; a taxonomy

Question 7

Genetic classification

Answer 7

a climate classification that uses causative factors to determine climatic regions; for example, an analysis of the effect of interacting air masses

Question 8

Empirical classification

Answer 8

a climate classification based on weather statistics or other data; used to determine general climate categories

Question 9

Climograph

Answer 9

a graph that plots daily, monthly, or annual temperature and precipitation values for a selected station; may also include additional weather information

Question 10

Biomes

Answer 10

broad regions, with their associated soil, plant, and animal communities

Question 11

Classification of climatic regions is based on what

Answer 11

temperature and precipitation

Question 12

Six basic climate categories

Answer 12

1- tropical (tropical latitudes: 23.5° N -23.5° S)
2- Mesothermal (midlatitudes, mild winter)
3- Microthermal (mid and high latitudes, cold winters)
4- Polar (high latitudes and polar regions
5- Highland (high elevations at all latitudes)
6- Dry (permanent moisture deficits)

Question 13

Tropical rain forest climate

Answer 13

Tropical rain forest climates are constantly moist and warm, convectional thunderstorms, triggered by local heating and trade-wind convergence, peak each day from mid-afternoon to late evening inland and earlier in the day where marine influence is strong along coastlines, huge canopies and sparse vegetation cover near ground

Question 14

what affects the tropical rain forest climate region throughout the year

Answer 14

the ITCZ

Question 15

Tropical Monsoon Climates

Answer 15

-Experiment dry season that lasts 1 or more months, when the ITCZ has moved away from the region
-lie principally along coastal areas within the tropical rain forest climatic realm and experience seasonal variation of wind and precipitation

Question 16

Tropical savanna climates

Answer 16

Tropical savanna climates are poleward (toward the north pole or south pole) of the tropical rain forest climates, ITCZ reaches these climate regions for about 6 months or less, summers are wetter than winters

Question 17

why can the Tropical savanna climates have two temperature maximums during the year

Answer 17

because the sun’s direct rays are overhead twice, before and after the summer solstice in each hemisphere as the subsolar point moves between the equator and the tropics

Question 18

Mesothermal

Answer 18

middle temperature, have warm and temperature climates, where true seasonality begins, mild winter

Question 19

the 4 climates of mesothermal

Answer 19

• humid subtropical hot-summer climates
• Humid subtropical winter-dry climate
• Marine west coast climates (warm to cool summers)
• Mediterranean dry-summer climates (dry summers)

Question 20

Humid subtropical hot-summer climates

Answer 20

Humid subtropical hot-summer climates either are moist all year or have a pronounced winter-dry period. in fall, winter, and spring, maritime tropical and continental polar air masses interact, generating frontal activity and frequent midlatitude cyclonic storms. These two mechanisms produce year-round precipitation

Question 21

what influences the Humid subtropical hot-summer climates during summer

Answer 21

Maritime tropical air masses generated over warm waters off eastern coasts

Question 22

Humid subtropical winter-dry climates

Answer 22

Humid subtropical winter-dry climates are related to the winter-dry, seasonal pulse of the monsoons. The extend poleward from tropical savanna climates and have a summer month that receives 10 times more precipitation than their driest winter month, flooding, thunderstorms, and tornadoes can happen

Question 23

Marine west coast climates

Answer 23

featuring mild winters and cool summers, maritime polar air masses, cool, moist, unstable, dominate marine west coast climates, marine west coast climate are unusually mild for their latitude

Question 24

The mediterranean dry-summer climate

Answer 24

designation specifies that at least 70% of annual precipitation occurs during the winter months. This shifting of stable, warm to hot, dry air over an area in summer and away from that area in winter created a pronounced dry-summer and wet-winter pattern

Question 25

Microthermal

Answer 25

means cool temperate to cold, humid micro thermal climates have a winter season with some summer warmth, poleward of the mesothermal climates

Question 26

the 3 climates of microthermal

Answer 26

- Humid Continental Hot-Summer Climates - Humid Continental Mild-Summer Climates - Subarctic Climates

Question 27

Humid Continental Hot-Summer Climates

Answer 27

Humid continental hot-summer climates have the warmest summer temperatures of the microthermal category, have precipitation which may be consistent throughout the year or have a distinct winter-dry period

Question 28

Humid Continental Mild-Summer Climates

Answer 28

Humid continental mild-summer climates are slightly cooler, and located farther toward the poles, mild-summer climate, frost-free periods range from fewer than 90 days in the northern portions of these regions to as many as 225 days in the southern parts. Less precipitation, but heavier snowfall which its melting is important to soil-moisture recharge

Question 29

Subarctic Climates

Answer 29

Subarctic climates have very cold winter and cool summers, covered by the so-called snow forests of fir, spruce, larch, and birch are the boreal forests of canada and the alga of russia,

Question 30

Permafrost

Answer 30

precipitation and potential evapotranspiration both are low, so soils are generally moist and either partially or totally frozen beneath the surface

Question 31

Polar and Highland Climates

Answer 31

Have no true summer, daylength increases in summer until daylight becomes continuous, yet average monthly temperatures never rise above 10°C. These temperature conditions do not allow tree growth, low sun altitude even during the long summer days, extremes of daylight between winter and summer, extremely low humidity, high surface albedo impacts - tundra - ice-cap and ice-sheet - Polar marine

Question 32

Tundra Climates

Answer 32

Tundra climates have limited plant growth because of cold temperatures, land is under some snow cover for 8-10 months, with the warmest month above 0°C, yet never warming above 10°C, occur only in the northern hemisphere, except for elevated mountain locations in the southern hemisphere,

Question 33

Ice-Cap and Ice-Sheet Climates

Answer 33

An ice sheet is a continuous layer of ice covering an extensive continental region, an ice cap is smaller in extent, dry, frigid air masses, receive less than 8 cm of precipitation a year

Question 34

Polar Marine Climates

Answer 34

Polar marine climates are more moderate than other polar climates in winter, with no month below -7°C, yet overall they are not as warm as tundra climates. Because of marine influences, annual temperature ranges are low. Average precipitation is 150 cm, and it can snow during any month

Question 35

Dry Climates (permanent moisture deficits)

Answer 35

These dry regions occupy more than 35% of Earth’s land area and are by far the most extensive climate over land. Water demand exceeds the precipitation water supply throughout, creating permanent water deficits - arid climates; tropical, subtropical hot desert, and midlatitude cold desert regimes - Semiarid climates; tropical, subtropical hot steppe, and midlatitude cold steppe regimes

Question 36

Characteristics of Dry Climates

Answer 36

Deserts have greater moisture deficits than do steppes, between 15° and 30° latitude in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Question 37

the 4 climates of dry climates

Answer 37

- Tropical, Subtropical Hot Desert Climates - Midlatitude Cold Desert Climates - Tropical, Subtropical Hot Steppe Climates - Midlatitude Cold Steppe Climates

Question 38

Steppe

Answer 38

a regional term referring to the vast semiarid grassland biome of Eastern Europe and Asia; the equivalent biome in North America is short-grass prairie, and in Africa, it is the savanna. Steppe in a climatic context is considered too dry to support forest, but too moist to be a desert

Question 39

Tropical, Subtropical Hot Desert Climates

Answer 39

Tropical, subtropical hot desert climates are Earth’s true tropical and subtropical deserts and feature annual average temperatures above 18°C. Rainfall is from local summer convectional showers. Some regions receive almost no rainfall, whereas others may receive up to 35 cm of precipitation a year

Question 40

Midlatitude Cold Desert Climates

Answer 40

Lower temperature and lower moisture - demand criteria, rainfall must be low - in the realm of 15 cm - for a station to qualify as a midlatitude cold desert climate

Question 41

Tropical, Subtropical Hot Steppe Climates

Answer 41

Tropical, subtropical hot steppe climates generally exist around the periphery of hot deserts, where shifting subtropical high-pressure cells create a distinct summer-dry and winter-wet pattern. Average annual precipitation in these climates is usually below 60 cm

Question 42

Midlatitude Cold Steppe Climates

Answer 42

The midlatitude cold steppe climates occur poleward of about 30° latitude and of the midlatitude cold desert climates. Such midlatitude steppes are not generally found in the Southern Hemisphere. As with other dry climate regions, rainfall in the steppes is widely variable and undependable, ranging from 20 to 40 cm

Question 43

Effects of climate change

Answer 43

- tropical and subtropical climates to move to higher latitudes - El Niño and La Niña move to new regions Storm systems are being pushed further into the midlatitudes - Jet stream is altering, which brings colder air to lower latitudes and - - warmer air to higher latitudes - Migration of animals species