Where are subarctic regions located?
North of humid continental climates
What are two types of temperate continental climates?
Humid continental and subarctic
Where are temperate continental climates found? Why?
The Northern Hemisphere; there are no landmasses large enough in the Southern Hemisphere.
What are characteristics of a tropical wet climate?
There are many rainy days and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. It is hot year round. Vegetation is lush and green.
What is the coldest climate region?
Polar climates/ice cap
What are temperate marine climates like?
Humid with mild winters
What is permafrost?
Permanently frozen soil
What three factors do scientists use to classify climates?
Temperature, precipitation, and vegetation
Why are highlands considered a distinct climate region?
Temperature falls as altitude increases, so highland regions are colder than the areas around them.
What are three types of temperate marine climates?
Humid subtropical, marine west coast, and Mediterranean
In what climate region do we live?
Temperate continental/humid continental
What are humid continental climates like?
Hot in the summer and cold in the winter
What are two types of tropical rainy climates?
Tropical wet and tropical wet-and-dry
Are there clear boundaries marking where one climate region ends and another begins?
No; each region blends gradually into the next
What is a savanna?
Tropical grasslands
What are characteristics of a tropical wet-and-dry climate?
They get slightly less rain than tropical wet climates. They have distinct dry and rainy seasons. They have tropical grasslands called savannas.
What are the six main climate regions?
Tropical rainy, dry, temperate marine, temperate continental, polar, and highlands
What is the climate like in the tundra?
Short, cool summers followed by bitterly cold winters
What are two types of dry climates?
Semiarid and arid
Who developed the system to classify climates?
Wladimir Koppen
What are two types of polar climates?
Tundra and ice cap
What is a climate graph (climograph)?
A graph that shows average temperature and precipitation for an area
What is a rainforest?
A forest in which large amounts of rain are common year round
What kind of landscape would you expect to find in an arid climate?
A desert
What is a steppe?
Semiarid areas on the edges of deserts. They are dry but get enough rainfall for short grasses and low bushes to grow.