World Climates

World Climates
And Ecosystems
Year 5 – Geography & Economics
66.5°N
23.5°N
0°
23.5°S
66.5°S
World Climates
The Secrets of World Climate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5NcKTFb3ck
Equatorial /
tropical climate
https://www.sustainablelearning.com/sites/default/files/resource_images/rainforest.jpg
Equatorial / tropical climate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq0asIXcW7w
 26-28°C
 > 2000mm of annual rainfall
 5° N and S of the equator
 NO SEASONS, but a distinct daily
pattern (Tageszeitenklima).
 Sun = high up in the sky
 12 hours of daylight, 12 hours of
darkness
 Daily pattern (Tageszeitenklima): after sunrise high

temperatures  convection currents and
evapotranspiration from swamps, rivers and the rain
forest. Air cools in higher altitudes, reaches the dew
point (=Taupunkt), and large cumulus clouds develop. By
mid-afternoon black cumulonimbus clouds 
thunderstorms and heavy downpours. Evenings calm,
nights warm and very humid.
Daily weather pattern with convectional rainfall

(Source: https://media.diercke.net/omeda/800/10142E_1_Sonnengang.jpg)
1. Why is it so hot at the equatorial
climate?
 Because the sun is overhead most of the time above the
equator.
 The sun‘s radiation is therefore very strong.
1. Why are there wetter and drier
months (in the equatorial climate)?
 Because the sun “moves“ between the two tropics
(Wendekreise) during the course of a year. Whereever the
sun is overhead, a low pressure area develops. Air from
outside that area is “pulled“ in. This makes winds change
direction. If that air comes from an ocean, it is humid and
then it rains there (a lot).
Tropical continental climate
(interior = savanna climate)
 25 – 33°C
 ~ 900 mm of annual precipitation
 Between 5° and 15° N and S
 2 seasons:
 Hot and wet (like equatorial /
tropical)
 Dry and slightly cooler
 Length of rainy season and amount

of rainfall unreliable (unsicher)
 Severe droughts (Dürren)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqpA9tswQxM&list=PLu83ZzwRbQvIoyZmLg59P7NY9eU37FBPG&index=3
Tropical Continental climate (interior)
 What causes the seasons in the savanna

climate?
 Seasons caused by the apparent movement of the overhead
sun.
 The hot and wet season occurs in summer, when the sun is
overhead, creating a low pressure area.
 The dry and slightly cooler season occurs in winter, when the
sun is overhead in the opposite hemisphere (area is then
influenced by trade winds from the east, which have shed all
their moisture before they reach these inland areas.
Movement of the overhead sun during the course of one year
The savanna during wet season The savanna during dry season
https://www.geoforcxc.com/natural-systems/weather-and-climate/ecosystems/tropical-continental-climate/
Monsoon Climate
monsoon = a season
 24° - 30°C
 1000mm, up to 12,000mm of
annual precipitation
 India and SE-Asia
 2 seasons:
 SW monsoon (June-Oct.: hot
and wet)
 NE monsoon (Nov.-May: slightly
cooler and dry)
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nstixjMS7A
Monsoon Climate
 What causes the change in seasons

of the Monsoon climate?
 SW monsoon (June-Oct. - hot and wet):
In June, the sun appears overhead at the Tropic of
Cancer (N). Central Asia becomes hot  low pressure
develops  air is drawn northwards from the Indian
Ocean. Where the air is forced to rise over
mountains, there are large amounts of relief rainfall.
 NE monsoon (Nov-May – slightly cooler and dry):
In the Northern winter, the overhead sun moves
southwards. Central Asia now becomes very cold 
high pressure develops. Winds blow outwards, they
come from a dry area and are therefore dry.
NE monsoon (Nov-May –
slightly cooler and dry):
SW monsoon (June-
What causes the change in Oct. - hot and wet):
seasons of the Monsoon
climate?
Short version:
The reversal and the
direction of the prevailing
winds.
Why is the wettest place on Earth –
Mawsynram in Meghalaya – in the Monsoon
climate?
 The hot air that comes from the Indian Ocean is very
humid. It moves northwards over the mountains (e.g. the
Western Gats and the Himalayas) (due to the low pressure
area on land – in India), has to rise to get over the
mountains and cools off while rising (it‘s colder higher up
in the atmosphere). Cool air can‘t hold moisture very well
and therefore it gives large amounts of relief rainfall.
Relief rainfall:
https://birdygeogblog.wordpress.com/tag/relief-rainfall/
Hot desert climate
 12° - 36°C
 < 250mm annual precipitation
 Between 5° and 30° N and S
 2 seasons:
 Hot and dry summers
 Warm and dry winters
 Big difference between day

and night and between
summer and winter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itnYTE-3u-o
Hot desert climate
Reasons for the lack of rain:

1) Prevailing winds come from the dry
land
2) Prevailing winds cross mountain
barriers
3) Prevailing winds from the sea cross
cold ocean currents. Are cool 
cannot pick up moisture.
4) Air that rose as convection currents
at the equator sinks at these
latitudes warms  clear skies
Hot desert climate:
Why is there such a big difference of
temperatures between day and night and
between summer and winter?
 Because of the cloudless sky (no evaporation means no
clouds in the desert), the ground that is heated up during
the day quickly cools down at night because the heat isn‘t
“trapped“ below the clouds.
 Temperatures are highest when the sun is overhead, but
lower when it is overhead on the opposite hemisphere.
Hot desert climate
Arches National Park, Utah, USA

https://traveldigg.com/arches-national-park-utah-usa/
Desert plants: cacti, shrubs
https://www.worldatlas.com/upload/2e/64/20/shutterstock-414202660.jpg
Cold Climate
 -25° / 16°C
 ~ 300mm of annual precipitation
 Poleward side of 60° N in Scandinavia,
Russia, Alaska, Canada
 Large annual range of temperatures
 Summers short but relatively warm
 Winters very long, dark and extremely
cold
 Precipitation is light throughout the
year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtavJ3Tt9XE&list=PLu83ZzwRbQvIoyZmLg59P7NY9eU37FBPG&index=1
1
Cold Climate
 Why is there such a big difference between summer and
winter in the cold climate?
 Summers quite warm due to the long hours of daylight and
due to its continental location far from the influence of the
cold sea.
 Winters are dark and cold because in places within the Arctic
Circle, the sun doesn’t rise for a period of time and also due
to the distance from any moderating influence from the sea.
Winds increase the wind-chill-factor and bring risk of frost-
bite.
 Why is there so little precipitation?
 Little rain because air is too cold and areas are too far away
from the sea.
https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/emedicinehealth/illustrations/frostbite.jpg
https://cdn.britannica.com/16/101216-050-38AD1E70/Polar-bear-cubs.jpg
Mediterranean Climate
 13° - 27°C
 ~ 500mm of annual
precipitation
 Between 30° and 40° N and S,
on the West coasts of
continents (Mediterranean Sea,
California, Central Chile, Cape
Town, South Australia)
 Hot and dry summers
 Warm and wet winters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk9Fyw2Okyw&list=PLu83ZzwRbQvIoyZmLg59P7NY9eU37FBPG&index=7
Mediterranean
Climate
 What causes the change in seasons
of the Mediterranean Climate?
 Summers are hot because the sun is at a
high angle in the sky (but it’s not
overhead)
and the wind blows from the warm land
 Summers are dry because the prevailing
winds blow across a dry land surface.
 Winters are warm because the sun is
lower in the sky
 Winters are wet because the prevailing
winds have reversed direction and now
blow from the sea (coastal areas get
lots of relief rainfall over mountains)
https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/t_share/MTc2MjY5MTE1MjYyNjQxMzI1/flowers-
and-vegetation-of-greece.jpg
Mediterranean Climate
Benefits of summer drought Problems of summer drought

 Tourism (people going on  Too dry and too hot for farming
vacation to Mediterranean  Forest fires
region)
 Water shortage in summer
 Certain crops grow well in this
climate (e.g. olives, citrus
fruits)
Which climate regions are affected most
by climate change?
 Cold regions are getting warmer → melting glaciers → rise of
sea levels
 Monsoon climate: stronger/more severe rainfalls, longer
periods of drought
 Tropical continental climate: dry season becomes longer,
there might not be a rainy season at all (in certain years)
 Mediterranean climate: summer droughts are increasing,
more forest fires, more severe water shortages

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 Daily pattern (Tageszeitenklima): after sunrise high

Daily weather pattern with convectional rainfall

 Length of rainy season and amount

 What causes the seasons in the savanna

 What causes the change in seasons

 Big difference between day

Reasons for the lack of rain:

Arches National Park, Utah, USA

Benefits of summer drought Problems of summer drought

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