The document discusses the factors that affect climate and the major climate zones of the world. It describes six factors that influence climate: latitude, elevation, topography, proximity to water, atmospheric circulation, and vegetation. It then explains the Köppen climate classification system and describes the six main climate groups: humid tropical, humid mid-latitude with mild winters, humid mid-latitude with severe winters, dry climates, polar climates, and highland climates. Examples are given for different climate types within each group.

1. Prentice Hall EARTH SCIENCE Tarbuck Lutgens 

4. 21.1 Factors That Affect Climate  Latitude (Factor #1) • As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases. • The tropical zone is between 23.5 o north (the tropic of Cancer) and 23.5 o south (the tropic of Capricorn) of the equator. The sun’s rays are most intense and the temperatures are always warm. • The temperate zones are between 23.5 o and 66.5 o north and between 23.5 o and 66.5 o south of the equator. The sun’s rays strike Earth at a smaller angle than near the equator. Factors That Affect Climate

5. Earth’s Major Climate Zones

6. Climate Data for Two Cities Q: What do you think is the difference between Flagstaff, AZ and Phoenix, AZ?

7. Flagstaff, AZ

8. Pheonix, AZ

9. 21.1 Factors That Affect Climate  Latitude (#1 cont.) • Polar zones are between 66.5 o north and south latitudes and the poles. The sun’s rays strike Earth at a very small angle in the polar zones.  Elevation (#2) • The higher the elevation is, the colder the climate.  Topography (#3) • Topographic features such as mountains play an important role in the amount of precipitation that falls over an area. Factors That Affect Climate (6)

10. The Rain Shadow Effect

11. 21.1 Factors That Affect Climate  Water Bodies (#4) • Large bodies of water such as lakes and oceans have an important effect on the temperature of an area because the temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above it.  Atmospheric Circulation (#5) • Global winds are another factor that influences climate because they distribute heat and moisture around Earth. Factors That Affect Climate

12. Rain Forest in Malaysia

13. 21.1 Factors That Affect Climate  Vegetation (#6) • Vegetation can affect both temperature and the precipitation patterns in an area. Factors That Affect Climate

16. 21.2 World Climates  The Köppen climate classification system uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation to classify climates. The Köppen Climate Classification System

17. 21.2 World Climates  Humid tropical climates are without winters. Every month in such a climate has a mean temperature above 18 o C. The amount of precipitation can exceed 200 cm per year.  Wet Tropical (type) • Wet tropical climates have high temperatures and much annual precipitation. #1 Humid Tropical Climates (Group)

18. Rain Forest in Malaysia

19. 21.2 World Climates  Tropical Wet and Dry (type) • Tropical wet and dry climates are climates that transition between the wet tropics and the subtropical steppes. #1 Humid Tropical Climates (group)

20. African Savanna

21. 21.2 World Climates  Climates with mild winters have an average temperature in the coldest month that is below 18 o C but above -3 o C. Climates with severe winters have an average temperature in the coldest month that is below -3 o C. Humid Mid-Latitude Climates

22. 21.2 World Climates  • A dry-summer subtropical climate (type) is a climate located on the west sides of continents between 30 o and 45 o latitude. It is the only humid climate with a strong winter precipitation maximum. #2 Humid Mid-Latitude Mild Winters (group)

23. 21.2 World Climates  Humid Mid-Latitude with Mild Winters • A humid subtropical climate (type) is generally located on the eastern side of a continent and is characterized by hot, sultry summers and cool winters. • A marine west coast climate (type) is found on windward coasts from latitudes 40 o to 65 o and is dominated by maritime air masses. Winters are mild, and summers are cool. #2 Humid Mid-Latitude Mild Winters (group)

24. Mid-Latitude Climates

25. 21.2 World Climates With Severe Winters • A subarctic climate (type) is found north of the humid continental climate and south of the polar climate; it is characterized by bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers. Places within this climate realm experience the highest annual temperature ranges on Earth. #3 Humid Mid-Latitude Climates

26. Mid-Latitude Climates

29. An Ice Cap Climate Is a Polar Climate

30. 21.2 World Climates  In general, highland climates are cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations. #6 Highland Climates