Climate RegionsClimate Regions

LatitudeLatitude►Factors that influence climate: elevation, Factors that influence climate: elevation,

ocean currents, size of land mass, winds…ocean currents, size of land mass, winds…►Latitude=most influential factor that affect Latitude=most influential factor that affect

climate type.climate type.►There are three latitude zones:There are three latitude zones:

Low Latitude- between 23 ½Low Latitude- between 23 ½° N and 23 ½ ° S ° N and 23 ½ ° S Mid Latitude- between 23 ½ Mid Latitude- between 23 ½ °N and 66 ° N °N and 66 ° N ANDAND

23 ½ 23 ½ ° S and 66 ° S° S and 66 ° S High Latitude- Poles; above 66 High Latitude- Poles; above 66 ° N ° N ANDAND

below 66 ° Sbelow 66 ° S

Important Lines of Important Lines of LatitudeLatitude

66° N

23 1/2 ° N

0 °

23 1/2 ° S

66° S

Arctic Circle

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Antarctic Circle

Low Latitude ClimatesLow Latitude ClimatesLatitude Range

World Location Vegetation Seasons

Tropicalrainforest

10° S to 25 ° N Amazon basin, equatorial Africa, East Indies, from Sumatra to New Guinea

A canopy of tall trees with layers of shorter trees and plants underneath

Heavy rainfall in all months, no difference in seasons

Savanna15° to 25° N and S

India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, southern Africa, South America, north coast of Australia

Grasses, short trees

Warm year round, wet and dry seasons

Desert18° to 28° N and S, centered on Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

Western North America (southwest U.S. southwest South America (Chili) north central Mexico, north Africa, southwest Africa, central Australia, north Asia (China, Mongolia)

Scattered vegetation; short grasses and shrubs, cacti

Warm or Cold, little to noprecipitation yearround

Mid-Latitude ClimatesMid-Latitude ClimatesLatitudeRange

World Location Vegetation Seasons/Rainfall

SteppeCentral areas ofcontinentsbetween 35° and 50° N

Western North America (Great Plains); Central South America, Central Africa (Sahel) (Patagonia) Eurasian interior (Kazakhstan)

Grassland, few trees

Low precipitation year round, hot summers, cold winters

Humidsubtropical

Southeast coast of continents between 20° and 40° N and S

Southeastern North America, Southeastern Asia, Southeastern Australia

Coniferous/Deciduous (Mixed) Forests and grassland

Warm, humid summer, and mild winters precipitation year round

Mediterranean30° to 50° N and S

The Mediterranean basin, west coasts of California, central Chile, South Africa, western/southern Australia

Shrubs, grasses, and mixed trees (Chaparral)

Long, hot, dry summers, and mild, rainy winters

Mid-Latitude ClimatesMid-Latitude ClimatesLatitudeLatitudeRangeRange

World LocationWorld Location VegetationVegetation Seasons/Seasons/RainfallRainfall

HumidHumidContinentalContinental

30 to 55 N and30 to 55 N andS, to 60 N inS, to 60 N inEuropeEurope

North central North America; North central North America; north central Asia (China); north central Asia (China); Korea; Japan; central and Korea; Japan; central and eastern Europeeastern Europe

Mixed coniferous and Mixed coniferous and deciduous forestdeciduous forest

Warm summer cold Warm summer cold winters, winters, moderate moderate rainfall rainfall throughout the throughout the yearyear

Marine-WestMarine-WestCoastCoast

30 to 60 N and S30 to 60 N and S West coast of N. America, west West coast of N. America, west coast of southern Chile, coast of southern Chile, and northwestern Europeand northwestern Europe

Mixed coniferous and Mixed coniferous and deciduous forestsdeciduous forests

Cool summers, Cool summers, mild winters, mild winters, high rainfall high rainfall year roundyear round

High Latitude ClimatesHigh Latitude ClimatesLatitude RangeLatitude Range World LocationWorld Location VegetationVegetation Seasons/Seasons/

RainfallRainfall

Sub arcticSub arctic

50° to 60° N50° to 60° N Northern North America Northern North America and Eurasiaand Eurasia

Coniferous forests - taigaConiferous forests - taiga Extremely cold Extremely cold winter, short, winter, short, cool summercool summer

ArcticArctic

60° to 70° N 60° to 70° N Northern North America Northern North America and Eurasia and Eurasia

Short grasses, mosses, Short grasses, mosses, lichenslichens

Extremely cold and Extremely cold and dry all yeardry all year

Other ClimatesOther ClimatesLatitudeLatitudeRangeRange

World LocationWorld Location VegetationVegetation Seasons/RainfallSeasons/Rainfall

HighlandHighland

Found all over Found all over the worldthe world

Mountain Ranges: Mountain Ranges: Himalayas, Andes, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alps, etc.Rockies, Alps, etc.

Varies with elevation and Varies with elevation and location on mountain. location on mountain. Leeward side is drier Leeward side is drier with less vegetation. with less vegetation.

Windward side Windward side receives the most receives the most rainfall while rainfall while leeward side leeward side remains dry. remains dry.

Weather v. ClimateWeather v. Climate►ClimateClimate: the temperature and : the temperature and

precipitation in an area over a long precipitation in an area over a long period of time.period of time.

►WeatherWeather: the current temperature and : the current temperature and precipitation in an area.precipitation in an area.

Terms to KnowTerms to Know►Low LatitudeLow Latitude►Mid LatitudeMid Latitude►High LatitudeHigh Latitude►ConiferousConiferous►DeciduousDeciduous►Mixed ForestMixed Forest►ChaparralChaparral