Exercise One: Climate Classification
Geog403 Environment and Food Customs
Dr. Hengchun Ye
Each climate regime classified by Koppen has a range of temperature and precipitation. Thus, we are able to classify the climate in any places of the world into one of the climate regimes if we have monthly temperature and precipitation data. The criteria for the Koppen’s classification system are attached. The conversion between degree C and Degree F is ºC=5/9(ºF-32). Conversion between millimeter and inch is 1 mm=0.039 in.
This exercise is to graph temperature (ºF) and precipitation (In.) data and classify each station into a climate regime. Computer graphing is recommended.
Questions need to be answered (apply to each station separately)
1.
What is the coldest air temperature at this station? When does it occur?
2.
What is the warmest air temperature at this station? When does it occur?
3.
How large is the seasonal temperature change?
4.
What is the annual mean temperature at this station?
5.
Is any dry or wet season for this station? Which season is dry or wet?
6.
What is the annual total precipitation?
7.
What climate regime does this station belongs to?
8.
What geographical location might this station be at?
Station One:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 33.8 38.0 40.3 45.6 53.3 60.8 67.9 66.2 60.9 51.4 40.9 35.3
Prec. 7.2 5.6 4.2 2.7 1.5 0.8 0.2 0.4 0.8 2.0 5.1 6.0
Station Two:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 52.4 54.7 61.4 68.7 74.9 80.2 82.1 81.7 78.5 69.2 60.0 54.6
Prec. 4.9 5.2 4.7 4.5 5.0 4.6 6.7 6.0 5.8 2.6 4.0 5.2
Station Three:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 10.7 13.0 24.3 37.3 50.2 60.3 65.1 62.5 53.6 43.1 31.1 15.7
Prec. 14.4 12.5 12.9 13.0 13.4 13.6 14.0 13.0 12.3 12.3 14.2 14.7
Station Four:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 68.7 70.1 74.1 77.7 80.6 82.9 84.5 84.3 82.6 80.1 75.5 71.0
Prec. 6.4 5.8 4.9 4.7 7.6 11.7 12.5 14.6 15.7 11.6 6.8 7.0
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Station Five:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 65 69 78 85 85 84 84 84 84 81 74 67
Prec. 13 10 27 57 166 300 356 322 225 155 13 1
Station Six:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 71 72 79 83 84 81 80 80 81 81 78 72
Prec. 0.4 0.3 1.6 3.1 12.5 41.0 37.6 38.8 18.0 8.9 2.7 0.3
Station Seven:
Time J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. 64 64 65 67 69 72 76 77 76 73 69 66
Prec. 1.5 1.4 1.0 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 1.4 1.8
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