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GLOBAL CLIMATE PATTERNS

A. INTRODUCTION

Precipitation how much? when?

Temperature yearly average seasonal variation

modified from USDA/NRCS Soil Temperature Regimes

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B. KOEPPEN SYSTEM

First letter

• A: tropical rainy climates

• B: dry climates

• C: humid subtropical climates

• D: humid continental climates

• E: polar climates climates

• H: highland climates

Second letter

A, C & D climates f: no dry season w: dry winter season s: dry summer season

B climates S: steppe W: desert

E climates T: tundra F: ice cap

Third letter

C & D climates a: hot summer b: mild summer c: cool summer d: cold

B climates h: hot k: cold

 

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C. GLOBAL CLIMATE PATTERNS

Tropical climates

Midlatitude climates

Polar climates

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D. SUMMARY

• Climates defined by temperature and precipitation (and vegetation)

• Global climate patterns determined by geographic patterns of:

  • temperature

  • pressure

  • circulation (atmospheric & oceanic)

  • precipitation

• Latitudinal pattern: A - B - C - D - E

• East coast versus west coast