Chapter: Climate

Section 2: Climate Types

Classifying Climates• Climatologists—people who study climates—

usually use a system developed in 1918 by Wladimir Köppen to classify climates.

• Köppen observed that the types of plants found in a region depended on the climate of the area.

• He classified world climates by using the annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation of different regions.

Climate Types

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Classifying Climates

• The climate classification system separates climates into six groups—tropical, mild, dry, continental, polar, and high elevation.

Climate Types

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Classifying Climates

Climate Types

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Climate Classification System• What is the most widely used and best

known?– Koppen Climate Classification System

• Uses monthly values of temperature and precipitation to classify climates

• Classifies climate regions in a realistic way

• It has 5 principal groups- What are they? (hint pg 592)

How are climate classified?

• All of them are classified by temperature EXCEPT….

• Dry climates–Dry climates are classified by

amount of precipitation that falls over an area

Pages 593-599• What are Humid Tropical Climates, Humid Mid- Latitude

Climates and Dry Climates?

• Fill in the blanks:• 1. World Climates

– A. Humid tropical • Wet tropics•

– B Humid mid-latitude• •

– C Dry– D – E

Climates • Table 1- Wet Tropical • Table 2- Tropical Wet and Dry • Table 3- Humid Mid – Latitude (mild winters)• Table 4- Humid Mid – Latitude (severe

winters)• Table 5- Polar Climates• Table 6- Highland Climates

Assignment

• Read about your climate and make notes of the key ideas in the text.

• I will call on a representative of your table to share with the class

Climate

Wet Tropical High temperatures and precipitation; Length of daylight changes slightly throughout the year

Tropical Wet and Dry High temperatures and precipitation, with periods of low precipitation

Humid Mid- Latitude with Mild Winters

Humid subtropical, marine west coast, and dry-summer subtropical

Humid Mid- Latitude with Severe Winters

Humid continental and subarctic

Polar Cool average temperatures; Little precipitation; tundra and ice cap

Highland Cooler and wetter than nearby areas

Map Master – this will be collected• Page 594-595 (Sahara = northern Africa)1)Do the map master skills activity2)THEN answer the following: • Name 3 places that have severe winters• Name 4 places that have arid climates• What climate does NC have?• Pick a place to go on vacation that would

have a tropical wet and dry climate.

Worldwide Climate Zone Activity

Objective:• To identify the Earth’s climate zones by

isotherm boundaries• To analyze a map of the Earth’s climate

zones

World Map

Section Check

2Question 1

What two factors do climatologists use to classify climates?

Section Check

2Answer

Climatologists use a system developed by Wladimir Koppen that classifies climates using average temperatures and precipitation.