Question | Answer |
What are the 2 main factors that scientists use to classify climates? | precipitation and temperature |
What are the 4 main factors that affect temperature? | latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water & ocean currents |
What are the 3 main factors that affect precipitation? | prevailing winds, the presence of mountains and seasonal winds |
What are the 3 latitude temperature zones? | tropical zone, polar zone & temperate zone |
What are the 6 main climate regions? | tropical rainy, dry, temperate marine, temperate continental, polar & highlands |
What are the 2 kinds of rainy climates in the tropics? | tropical wet & tropical wet-and-dry |
What are 2 kinds of dry climates? | arid & semiarid |
What are the 3 kinds of temperate marine climates? | marine west coast, humid subtropical & mediterranean |
What are 2 kinds of temperate continental climates? | humid continental & subarctic |
What are 2 kinds of polar climates? | ice cap and tundra |
What absorbs/releases heat fast? | land |
What absorbs/releases heat slow? | water |
How does a large body of water affect the temperature of the area? | Oceans moderate the temperatures of nearby land because water heats up and cools down more slowly, so the winds off of the ocean prevent extremes of hot & cold in coastal regions. |
Which temperature zone does the sun hit the area most directly? | tropical zone |
Which temperature zone does the sun hit the area the least directly? | polar zone |
How do mountain ranges affect precipitation? | Humid winds blow from the ocean, are forced to rise up the windward side, where it cools, water vapor condenses, clouds form & rain or snow fall. The air moves over the mountain to the leeward side, loses water vapor, and little precipitation falls. |
Define tropical rainy climates. | temperature is always 18 degrees C or above; always hot; tropical wet has heavy rainfall all year & tropical wet-and-dry has alternating wet & dry seasons |
Define dry climates. | occurs wherever potential evaporation is greater than precipitation; may be hot or cold; semiarid is dry with 25-50 cm of rain per year; arid is desert with less than 25 cm per year |
Define temperate marine climates. | in the warmest month temperatures average 10 degrees C or above; in the coldest month temperatures are between -3 degrees C and 18 degrees C |
Define temperate continental climates. | in the warmest month temperatures average 10 degrees C or above; in the coldest month temperatures are -3 degrees C or below |
Define polar climates. | in the warmest month temperatures average below 10 degrees C |
Define highland climates. | generally cooler and wetter than nearby lowlands; temperatures decrease with altitude |
Which climates is are influenced by ocean currents? | marine climates |
What does the amount of water in prevailing winds depend upon? | where the winds come from |