Climate Classification
What is climate: Average state of the atmosphere based on many years of data. The most important elements in climate descriptions are temperature and precipitation as they have the greatest influence on people
Koppen Classification of Climate: best known and the most used tool for presenting the world pattern of climate. Uses easily obtained data, mean monthly and annual values of temp. and precipitation. Koppen believed that the distribution of natural vegetation was the best expression of an overall climate.
A- humid tropical
B- dry
C- humid mid-latitude, mild winters
D- humid mid-latitude, severe winters
E- Polar
The major controls of the climate: Latitude , variations in the receipt of solar energy and temp. differences are largely a function of latitude. Land/ Water Influence, marine climates are more mild while continental climates are typically much more extreme.
geographic position and prevailing winds: (the moderating effect of water is more pronounced along the windward side of a continent),
(4) mountains and highlands: (mountain barriers prevent maritime air masses from reaching far inland, trigger orographic rainfall, and where they are extensive, create their own climatic regions),
(5) ocean currents: (poleward-moving currents cause air temperatures to be warmer than would be expected), and
(6) pressure and wind systems: (the world distribution of precipitation is closely related to the distribution of Earth's major pressure and wind systems).
Type A Climate :Situated along the equator, the wet tropics (Af, Am) constant high temperatures and year-round rainfall combine to produce the most luxuriant vegetation in climatic realm—the tropical rain forest. Temperatures in these regions usually average 25°C (77°F) or more each month and the daily temperature variations characteristically greatly exceed seasonal differences.
Precipitation in Af and Am climates is normally from 175 to 250 centimeters (68 to 98 inches) per year and is more variable than temperature, both seasonally and from place to place. Thermally induced convection coupled with convergence along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) leads to widespread ascent of the warm, humid, unstable air and ideal conditions for precipitation.
Type B Climate:Dry regions of the world cover about 30 percent of Earth's land area. Other than their meager yearly rainfall, the most characteristic feature of dry climates is that precipitation is very unreliable. Climatologists define a “dry climate” as one in which the yearly precipitation is less than the potential water loss by evaporation.
Type C Climate: Humid middle-latitude climates with mild winters (C climates) occur where the average temperature of the coldest month is less than 18°C (64°F) but above -3°C (27°F). Several C climate subgroups exist.
Type D Climate:Humid continental climates with severe winters (D climates) experience severe winters.The average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or below and the average temperature of the warmest month exceeds 10°C (50°F). The greatest annual temperature ranges on Earth occur here.
Type E Climate: Polar climates (ET, EF) are those in which the mean temperature of the warmest month is below 10°C (50°F).
Annual temperature ranges are extreme, with the lowest annual means on the planet. Although polar climates are classified as humid, precipitation is generally meager, with many non-marine stations receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) annually.
Koppen Classification of Climate: best known and the most used tool for presenting the world pattern of climate. Uses easily obtained data, mean monthly and annual values of temp. and precipitation. Koppen believed that the distribution of natural vegetation was the best expression of an overall climate.
A- humid tropical
B- dry
C- humid mid-latitude, mild winters
D- humid mid-latitude, severe winters
E- Polar
The major controls of the climate: Latitude , variations in the receipt of solar energy and temp. differences are largely a function of latitude. Land/ Water Influence, marine climates are more mild while continental climates are typically much more extreme.
geographic position and prevailing winds: (the moderating effect of water is more pronounced along the windward side of a continent),
(4) mountains and highlands: (mountain barriers prevent maritime air masses from reaching far inland, trigger orographic rainfall, and where they are extensive, create their own climatic regions),
(5) ocean currents: (poleward-moving currents cause air temperatures to be warmer than would be expected), and
(6) pressure and wind systems: (the world distribution of precipitation is closely related to the distribution of Earth's major pressure and wind systems).
Type A Climate :Situated along the equator, the wet tropics (Af, Am) constant high temperatures and year-round rainfall combine to produce the most luxuriant vegetation in climatic realm—the tropical rain forest. Temperatures in these regions usually average 25°C (77°F) or more each month and the daily temperature variations characteristically greatly exceed seasonal differences.
Precipitation in Af and Am climates is normally from 175 to 250 centimeters (68 to 98 inches) per year and is more variable than temperature, both seasonally and from place to place. Thermally induced convection coupled with convergence along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) leads to widespread ascent of the warm, humid, unstable air and ideal conditions for precipitation.
Type B Climate:Dry regions of the world cover about 30 percent of Earth's land area. Other than their meager yearly rainfall, the most characteristic feature of dry climates is that precipitation is very unreliable. Climatologists define a “dry climate” as one in which the yearly precipitation is less than the potential water loss by evaporation.
Type C Climate: Humid middle-latitude climates with mild winters (C climates) occur where the average temperature of the coldest month is less than 18°C (64°F) but above -3°C (27°F). Several C climate subgroups exist.
Type D Climate:Humid continental climates with severe winters (D climates) experience severe winters.The average temperature of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or below and the average temperature of the warmest month exceeds 10°C (50°F). The greatest annual temperature ranges on Earth occur here.
Type E Climate: Polar climates (ET, EF) are those in which the mean temperature of the warmest month is below 10°C (50°F).
Annual temperature ranges are extreme, with the lowest annual means on the planet. Although polar climates are classified as humid, precipitation is generally meager, with many non-marine stations receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) annually.
Climate Change
Caused by humans- The United States is one of the top countries producing CO2. Since 1880, temps. have risen .8 degrees, which sounds like a small thing , but its actually pretty big. We know that an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere causes a greater capacity for warming through the greenhouse effect. When the Earth experiences higher temperatures, the oceans warm and cannot contain as much CO2 gas and, as a result, they release CO2 into the atmosphere.
Consequences of Global Warming: melting of polar ice caps, many glaciers, and permafrost, rising of sea levels, heat waves, cold spells, change in precipitation patterns, increase in storm intensity, and shifts in ocean currents. Wild plants and animals can be affected. The growing season for plants has changed and animals have the potential to be harmed if they can't move to better climates. Humans may have to relocate, some diseases like those carried by mosquitoes could increase and there could be economic consequences.
The Kyoto Protocol- In 1997, representatives of the nations of the world went to Kyoto, Japan to discuss how best to control the emissions contributing to global warming. The agreement was that emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012. Developing nations did not have emission limits imposed by the protocol. Bush didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol, even though we are the leading cause of CO2 emissions.
Carbon Sequestration- Approach involving taking CO2 out of the atmosphere. Some methods include storing carbon in agricultural soils or retiring agricultural land and allowing it to become pasture or forest. Researchers are looking at cost-effective ways of capturing CO2 from the air, from coal-burning power stations, and from other emission source. This captured CO2 would be compressed and pumped into abandoned oil wells or the deep ocean.
Natural Reasons- Volcanoes can have HUGE affects on the weather but typically, only the really big eruptions will have noticeable effects on the climate.
El Nino - Trade winds aren't as strong.Warm water isn't pushed to Australia, so they suffer from droughts and South America doesn't have as much cool water so nutrients go down and fishing goes down. Both economies suffer
El Nina- Stronger Trade winds. Australia gets more warm water so flooding can occur. South America gets super cold water and fish might not like it. But it doesn't really affect any of the countries in a major way.
El Nino makes it colder, El Nina makes it warmer and slightly drier. But it barely touches us.
Sunspots-Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the surface of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection and forms areas of reduced surface temperature.
An influence of solar irradiance variations on Earth’s surface climate has been repeatedly suggested, based on correlations between solar variability and meteorological variables. Low solar activity can enhance cold winters in northern Europe and the United States, with little direct change in globally averaged temperature.
An eruption can cause warming and cooling. An addition of carbon dioxide contributes to greenhouse warming. An addition to sulfurous gases induces cooling, because they turn into droplets of sulfuric acid that absorb and reflect sunlight, and cut down the amount of heat that reaches the ground. But most documented cases show a net cooling effect.
Milankovitch Cycles- EXTREMELY long term effects that scientists think may be the cause of the ice ages. These are movements of
the Earth that affect the amount of solar radiation that it gets.
Consequences of Global Warming: melting of polar ice caps, many glaciers, and permafrost, rising of sea levels, heat waves, cold spells, change in precipitation patterns, increase in storm intensity, and shifts in ocean currents. Wild plants and animals can be affected. The growing season for plants has changed and animals have the potential to be harmed if they can't move to better climates. Humans may have to relocate, some diseases like those carried by mosquitoes could increase and there could be economic consequences.
The Kyoto Protocol- In 1997, representatives of the nations of the world went to Kyoto, Japan to discuss how best to control the emissions contributing to global warming. The agreement was that emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012. Developing nations did not have emission limits imposed by the protocol. Bush didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol, even though we are the leading cause of CO2 emissions.
Carbon Sequestration- Approach involving taking CO2 out of the atmosphere. Some methods include storing carbon in agricultural soils or retiring agricultural land and allowing it to become pasture or forest. Researchers are looking at cost-effective ways of capturing CO2 from the air, from coal-burning power stations, and from other emission source. This captured CO2 would be compressed and pumped into abandoned oil wells or the deep ocean.
Natural Reasons- Volcanoes can have HUGE affects on the weather but typically, only the really big eruptions will have noticeable effects on the climate.
El Nino - Trade winds aren't as strong.Warm water isn't pushed to Australia, so they suffer from droughts and South America doesn't have as much cool water so nutrients go down and fishing goes down. Both economies suffer
El Nina- Stronger Trade winds. Australia gets more warm water so flooding can occur. South America gets super cold water and fish might not like it. But it doesn't really affect any of the countries in a major way.
El Nino makes it colder, El Nina makes it warmer and slightly drier. But it barely touches us.
Sunspots-Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the surface of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection and forms areas of reduced surface temperature.
An influence of solar irradiance variations on Earth’s surface climate has been repeatedly suggested, based on correlations between solar variability and meteorological variables. Low solar activity can enhance cold winters in northern Europe and the United States, with little direct change in globally averaged temperature.
An eruption can cause warming and cooling. An addition of carbon dioxide contributes to greenhouse warming. An addition to sulfurous gases induces cooling, because they turn into droplets of sulfuric acid that absorb and reflect sunlight, and cut down the amount of heat that reaches the ground. But most documented cases show a net cooling effect.
Milankovitch Cycles- EXTREMELY long term effects that scientists think may be the cause of the ice ages. These are movements of
the Earth that affect the amount of solar radiation that it gets.
Climate Change Webquest
Key Indicators
1) What is carbon dioxide (CO2) and where does it usually come from? Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that helps trap heat and it comes from natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruption as well as human activity like deforestation and burning fossil fuels.
2) According to the CO2 charts, what was the highest level of CO2 in the 400,000 years prior to 1950? 300 ppm
3) According to the charts, what is the level of CO2 today? A little over 380 ppm
4) Based on the information on the page, why is this level of CO2 a problem? Because the average global temperature is increasing every year, known as global warming
5) According to the charts on Arctic Sea Ice, what has been the overall trend since 1980? It is declining at a rate of 13.3% per decade.
6) What trend can be observed for land ice? It is losing mass at a rate of 134.0 billion metric tons per year
7) What trend can be observed for sea level? It is rising 3.24 mm per year
8) What overall conclusion can you make based on the data of these three charts? The increase in CO2 levels is causing the Earth to over-heat, leading to ice caps melting and sea levels to rise
Evidence
9) What are eight areas that scientists look at for evidence of global warming? Sea level rise, Global temperature rise, Warming Oceans, Shrinking ice sheets, Declining Arctic sea ice, Global retreat, Extreme Events, Ocean Acidification, Decreased snow cover
Causes
10) What are the five common gases that cause global warming? Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Chlofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Effects
11) According to the effects page, what effect will climate change have on water availability? Loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves.
12) What visible changes have already occurred due to climate change? Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.
Consensus
13) What percentage of scientists agree that climate change is due to human activity? 97%
Innovations
14) Describe three innovations in energy that could help the world become independent of fossil fuels. Solar-powered plant operators, greener space rocket fuel, and ways for wind farms to store and deliver surplus energy
1) What is carbon dioxide (CO2) and where does it usually come from? Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that helps trap heat and it comes from natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruption as well as human activity like deforestation and burning fossil fuels.
2) According to the CO2 charts, what was the highest level of CO2 in the 400,000 years prior to 1950? 300 ppm
3) According to the charts, what is the level of CO2 today? A little over 380 ppm
4) Based on the information on the page, why is this level of CO2 a problem? Because the average global temperature is increasing every year, known as global warming
5) According to the charts on Arctic Sea Ice, what has been the overall trend since 1980? It is declining at a rate of 13.3% per decade.
6) What trend can be observed for land ice? It is losing mass at a rate of 134.0 billion metric tons per year
7) What trend can be observed for sea level? It is rising 3.24 mm per year
8) What overall conclusion can you make based on the data of these three charts? The increase in CO2 levels is causing the Earth to over-heat, leading to ice caps melting and sea levels to rise
Evidence
9) What are eight areas that scientists look at for evidence of global warming? Sea level rise, Global temperature rise, Warming Oceans, Shrinking ice sheets, Declining Arctic sea ice, Global retreat, Extreme Events, Ocean Acidification, Decreased snow cover
Causes
10) What are the five common gases that cause global warming? Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Chlofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Effects
11) According to the effects page, what effect will climate change have on water availability? Loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves.
12) What visible changes have already occurred due to climate change? Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.
Consensus
13) What percentage of scientists agree that climate change is due to human activity? 97%
Innovations
14) Describe three innovations in energy that could help the world become independent of fossil fuels. Solar-powered plant operators, greener space rocket fuel, and ways for wind farms to store and deliver surplus energy