Types of
Climate Climate is the combination of temperature, moisture,
wind, and sunshine at a place over a period of many years. Weather is made up of
atmospheric conditions during a few hours or days. The weather may be rainy on a
certain day. But that place may usually have a warm, dry, sunny climate. We
learn about the climate of a place by studying its temperature, moisture, wind,
and sunshine from season to season and year to year. Temperature
and the amount of rainfall are the two most important elements of climate.
Others are humidity (air moisture), cloudiness, fog, sunshine, wind, storms, and
air pressure. There are many different types of climate on
earth. Climates of the world can be classified according to their latitudes and
the plants that grow there. Different kinds of plants need different amounts of
heat and moisture for growth. The vegetation of a region tells us about
temperature and rainfall conditions over a long period of time. Tropical
Climates Tropical climates are found in regions between 35N
and 35S latitude. In the tropical rain forest (nearest the equator) conditions
are warm and rainy all year long, and there is a thick cover of trees. Places
farther north and south of the equator have a tropical wet-and-dry climate.
There the forests are not so dense, and many trees lose their leaves in the dry
season. Along 23.5N and 23.5S latitude there are vast regions of tropical desert
climate, where very little vegetation can grow. Subtropical
Climates Subtropical climates are usually found between 30
and 40 North and South latitudes. The subtropical western coasts of the
continents have a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry; winters are
mild and wet. On the subtropical eastern coasts of continents the climate is
humid subtropical. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. There is enough
rainfall in all seasons for forests. Mid-latitude Climate
Mid-latitude climates occur between 40 and 60 NS latitudes. Strong
westerly winds blow in the mid-latitudes. The climate of the west coast of North
America is mild and rainy most of the year. It helps the growth of fine timber
forests. Some places in the mid-latitudes do not receive moisture because of
mountain barriers or their great distances from the oceans. Humid continental
climates cover large mid-latitude area in eastern parts of the continents. They
are forest climates with cold winters and warm summers. Most of the rainfall
comes in the summer. High-latitude Climates
High-latitude climates occur from 60 to the poles, North and South. In the
high latitudes it is very cold in winter and cool in summer. The short summers
are warm enough for forests of evergreen trees. Greenland and Antarctica have a
polar climate, where great ice caps exist because of year-round
freezing. High-altitude Climates Highland climates are
cooler than the surrounding lowlands because of the effects of altitude.
Highland climates are found on the high mountains of the world, even on the
equator. In the tropics and mid-latitudes different kinds of vegetation grow in
zones up the slopes of mountains to the permanent snowfields. The Causes
of Different Climates The differences in the climate from
place to place are caused by climate controls. The major climate controls are
latitude, altitude, land and water bodies, ocean currents, and storm
centers. Latitudes make climates colder toward the north and
south poles (high latitudes) than at the tropics near the equator (low
altitudes). Low-latitude regions remain warm throughout the year. At higher
latitudes there are greater differences between winter and summer
temperatures. Altitude affects climate by lowering temperatures
as the height above sea level increases. At high altitudes the air is less dense
and does not absorb and hold as much heat. On the average, the temperature drops
about 2 degrees Celsius for each 300 meters of altitude (about 3.5 degrees
Fahrenheit for each 1,000 feet). Thus snow can remain on mountainlike Fujiyama
when nearby lowlands are warm. Land and water bodies influence
climate. Land warms up rapidly in summer and cools off rapidly in winter. But
large bodies of water change temperature slowly, with the seasons.
Mid-continental places in middle and high latitudes have a continental climate.
Summers are warm and winter cold. Island and seacoasts usually have milder
winters and cooler summers because of the water surfaces nearby.
Ocean currents affect climate in many parts of the world. Some currents
carry warm water to cool regions; others carry cool water to warm regions. The
Labrador Current is cold. The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current. It carries
warm water from the tropical Atlantic toward the coasts of northwestern Europe.
As a result, winters in the British Isles and in Westam Europe are warmer than
other regions in the same latitudes. Winds carry heat and
moisture and therefore affect climate. Winds that come from lands in high
latitudes are cold and dry. Some winds change direction with the seasons. In
southern Asia winds called monsoons are dry and cool in the winter, when they
blow from the land. In the summer they blow from the ocean and produce heavy
rainfall. Climate and the Water Cycle Water enters the
atmosphere by evaporation from land and water surfaces. Winds carry water vapor
and clouds to other areas. There the moisture is returned to the earth in the
form of rain or snow. Much of the water falls on land and runs off to the sea in
rivers. But some moisture enters soil. It helps growing plants or builds up the
groundwater supply. The constant movement of water from land to sea to air and
back again is called the water cycle. The amount of water available for farming,
industry, and many other uses differs from one climate to another. People try to
overcome these differences by using water resources wisely. The water cycle can
be controlled in part for a short time by storing water in reservoirs,
irrigating land, draining wetlands, or pumping water from wells. Climate
and People Climate influences people’s comfort, well-being,
and activities in many ways. Most people do not work as well in a hot, moist
climate as in a cooler, drier climate. Extremely high or low temperatures are
uncomfortable. Certain diseases are more common in some climates than in others.
It is difficult to determine what is the best or ideal climate for human beings.
People differ in their reactions to climate because of their individual
characteristics and attitudes. The amount and kind of clothing
people wear is determined partly by climate. Clothing for cold climates gives
protection against wind and cold. Less clothing is needed in warm climates.
There are many types of special clothing for wind, cold, sun, rain, and
snow. People build houses mainly for shelter from the climatic
elements. Carefully planned houses take advantage of sunlight, wind direction,
and other factors to obtain a maximum of comfort as well as protection. The
amount of heating or air-conditioning needed in a building depends upon the
construction of the building as well as the outside climate. Many modem
inventions have made it possible for people to live comfortably in any kind of
climate. Climate affects the food supply by setting limits for
profitable production of crops and animals. Climate influences cattle raising
and forestry because it determines where grasslands and forests will grow.
Winds, clouds, and storms have to be considered in travel by land, sea, or air
and even in the launching of satellite. Most industries take special attention
to protect their products against weather and climate during manufacture,
storage, and shipment. Through ___________ for profitable production of crops and animals, climate can also affect the food supply.