World Geography – Climate and Weather SOL WG 2a – Cloze Notes
Climate is the condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time.
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time.
Characteristics
A. Temperature,
B. Precipitation
C. Seasons
Elements
A. Latitude
B. Winds – Distribute Heat
C. Elevation – Higher elevations are colder
D. Water – Moderates temperature
E. Ocean Currents – distribute heat
Low Latitude Climate Zones
Middle Latitude Climate Zones
A. Tropical Wet – Rains everyday and is hot all year.
Tropical rainforest (jungle) vegetation – located near
equator
A. Mediterranean – Hot climate all year. Small shrubs
and trees. Located in Southern California, Spain, Italy,
Greece.
B. Tropical Wet and Dry - Rains half the year and is dry
half the year. Savanna vegetation in Africa. Located near
the equator.
B. Humid Continental – Cold winters, warm summers,
located in Northeast U.S.
High Latitudes
A. Subarctic – Northern Canada, Russia. Coniferous
forests such as Taiga. Very cold winters.
B. Tundra – Cold grassland. No trees grow.
C. Humid Suptropical - Virginia
D. Marine West Coast – Coast of Oregon
Other
A. Arid (Desert). North Africa Sahara Desert.
B. Semiarid (Almost Desert) dry grasslands such as
steppe.
C. Icecap – Arctic and Antarctica
C. Highland (located in mountains) – Alps, Andes,
Himalayas.
Vegetation
A. Rainforest – Forest with broadleaf trees located in
D. Middle Latitude Forest – Mixed forest with coniferous
low latitudes
and deciduous trees
B. Savanna – Tropical grassland in Africa
E. Taiga – Coniferous forest located in Russia
C. Steppe – Dry grassland near deserts
F. Tundra – Cold grassland with permafrost
World Geography – Climate and Weather SOL WG 2a – Cloze Notes
Weather
A. Monsoons – Seasonal wind patterns in South and
Southeast Asia that bring rain.
B. Typhoons – Tropical storms in Pacific Ocean, causes
flooding, high winds, storm surge
C. Hurricanes – Tropical storms in Caribbean
D. Tornadoes – Funnel shaped storm with high winds,
especially in Great Plains of U.S.
Effect of Climate
Climate has an effect on:
A. Crops
B. Clothing
C. Housing
D. Natural Hazards
The picture to the right is a type of house in Switzerland
called a chalet. It has a steep roof so snow can fall off in
the winger. This is an example of how climate has an
effect on housing.
The picture above the chalet is an adobe house. It is
made out of mud and wood. Common in desert climates.
Monsoons (Positive/Negative)
Provides rain for growing crops
Causes flooding near rivers, especially in the country of
Bangladesh