Chapter 11
Midlatitude and High Latitude
Climates
OVERVIEW
This chapter explores climates that are found poleward of the tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn.
 Midlatitude and high latitude climates as a group:
 occupy the midlatitude zone, part of the subtropical zone, and extend poleward
into the subarctic latitude zone
 are located mainly in the northern hemisphere
 are affected by the poleward portion of the subtropical high pressure cells, the
westerly wind belt, and the conflict between warm and cold air masses that occurs
along the polar front zone
 The dry subtropical climate:
 is a poleward extension of the dry tropical climate but shows a greater annual
temperature range due to its higher latitude
 experiences a cool or cold season influenced by invasions of air from higher
latitudes
 receives occasional precipitation from midlatitude cyclones
 is divided into arid and semi-arid subtypes
 has more abundant vegetation than the dry tropical climate due to lower
temperatures and slightly more precipitation
 supports plants and animals that have adapted their life cycles to take advantage of
infrequent periods of rain
 supports agriculture only under irrigation
 The moist subtropical climate:
 is created by warm, moist air flowing out of the subtropical high pressure cells
onto the eastern sides of the continents
 has abundant summer rainfall, mainly convectional with an occasional tropical
cyclone
 in Southeast Asia experiences a strong monsoon effect
 receives winter precipitation from wave cyclones while the storm tracks are in
their most southerly position
 abundant yearly precipitation provides ample water for urban and industrial
development but may cause flooding
 supports broadleaf deciduous and evergreen forests and some needle-leaf and pine
forests
 soils are depleted by high rainfall as nutrients are washed out of the soil
 The Mediterranean climate:
 experiences a very dry summer due to migration of the subtropical high-pressure
cell into the area.
 winter is dominated by rainfall provided by CP air masses and cyclonic storms
 has a moderate temperature range
 is limited to narrow coastal zones
 is a pleasant climate for humans although there are problems with water
availability in summer and plants must adapt to the dry summer period
 The marine west coast climate:
 experiences mild temperatures with a small temperature range for its latitude
 is a moist climate with a winter precipitation maximum due to frequent cyclonic
storms; in summer the northward movement of the subtropical high pressure cell
reduces precipitation
 supports needle-leaf forests in the wet mountainous areas of Pacific North America
and deciduous trees in the relatively drier areas in Europe
 The dry midlatitude climate:
 influences the interior regions of North America and Eurasia
 in some areas, the rainshadow effect blocks maritime air masses so drier
continental air masses dominate
 summer rainfall is largely convectional associated with occasional maritime air
masses
 has a strong annual temperature range with warm to hot summers and cold to very
cold winters
 includes arid and semi-arid environments ranging from cold desert to steppes
 soils have a high natural fertility and support a vegetation of short grass prairie
with moisture being the limiting factor
 experienced serious land degradation during the drought years of the 1930s after
vast areas of land in this climate type were broken for agriculture
 The moist continental climate:
 is found in central and eastern North America and Eurasia
 exhibits large seasonal temperature variation as well as strong day-to-day variation
 receives ample precipitation peaking in the summer with mT air masses while the
winter is dominated by cP and cA air masses
 East Asia experiences a monsoon effect which increases summer precipitation
 supports a native vegetation of deciduous forest which grades into tall grass prairie
toward continental interiors
 soils show some leaching and acidity due to an abundance of precipitation
 supports large scale agriculture
 The high latitude climates:
 are located in the westerly wind belt
 are influenced by mP air masses conflicting with cP and cA air masses and wave
cyclones which develop along the arctic-front zone
 experience higher summer precipitation brought in by mT air masses
The boreal forest climate:
 has long, bitterly cold winters and short cool summers
 experiences a very large annual temperature range as a result of its continental
location
 is a source region for cP air masses, and invasions of cA air masses are common
 has low total annual precipitation with a summer precipitation maximum produced
by maritime air masses
 supports a native vegetation of needle leaf trees which supply the pulpwood and
lumber industry; agriculture is practiced along milder coastal areas
 The tundra climate:
 is found along arctic coastal areas
 experiences long severe winters dominated by cP, mP, and cA air masses
 has a smaller temperature range than expected for its latitude due to the
moderating effect of the nearby ocean
 vegetation consists of grasses, sedges, lichens, and some shrubs; species diversity
is low but the number of individuals is high
 soils are poorly developed and are underlain with permafrost
 Permafrost is permanently frozen ground overlain by an active layer that thaws
during the summer.
 The tundra climate is cold enough to create continuous permafrost, frozen ground
with few gaps or interruptions. Discontinuous permafrost occurs in patches and is
found in the boreal forest climate.
 The ice sheet climate:
 is the source region of arctic and antarctic air masses
 occurs on the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica and over the Arctic ocean ice
 experiences the lowest mean annual temperature; no month has a mean
temperature above freezing
 has very low precipitation which doesn’t completely melt away because the air is
too cold
 is a very harsh environment devoid of soils and vegetation, and the few species of
animals found in this climate are marine oriented
KEY TERMS
midlatitude climates
dry subtropical climate
moist subtropical climate
Mediterranean climate
sclerophylls
marine west coast climate
dry midlatitude climate
moist continental climate
broadleaf evergreen forest
tall grass prairie
high latitude climates
boreal forest climate
tundra climate
alpine tundra
tree line
active layer
continuous permafrost
discontinuous permafrost
thermal erosion
ice sheet climate
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why are the climates in the midlatitude zone so variable?
What climatic factors shape the dry subtropical climate?
How have species adapted to the climate of the subtropical desert?
What role does the subtropical high pressure cell play in the moist subtropical climate?
Why is the Mediterranean climate stressful for vegetation? How does the vegetation
adapt?
6. What climatic factors determine the marine west coast climate?
7. What is the steppe subtype of the dry midlatitude climate so important for agriculture?
8. What air masses influence the moist continental climate?
9. Why does the boreal forest climate have the largest annual temperature range of the
climates?
10.How are the boreal forest and tundra climates similar? How are they different?
11.What is permafrost? Where does it occur? Why are permafrost environments fragile?
CHAPTER QUIZ
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following midlatitude climates have a mean monthly temperature below
freezing?
a) the dry subtropical climate
b) the moist subtropical climate
c) the Mediterranean climate
2.
3.
4.
5.
d) the moist continental climate
The midlatitude climate with a winter precipitation maximum is:
a) the dry midlatitude climate
b) the moist subtropical climate
c) the Mediterranean climate
d) the moist continental climate
Which of the following climates is not found predominantly along coastal areas?
a) the dry midlatitude climate
b) the tundra climate
c) the Mediterranean climate
d) the marine west coast climate
The high latitude climate with the lowest precipitation is:
a) the boreal forest climate
b) the tundra climate
c) the ice sheet climate
d) the moist continental climate
The coldest climate on Earth is:
a) the boreal forest climate
b) the tundra climate
c) the ice sheet climate
d) the moist continental climate
True/False Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The marine west coast climate has a summer precipitation maximum. (T/F)
Soil fertility is the limiting factor in wheat production in the Great Plains. (T/F)
The role of the monsoon circulation is to increase summer precipitation. (T/F)
The ice sheet climates are source areas for cA and cAA air masses. (T/F).
The moist continental climate is found only in the northern hemisphere. (T/F)
Short Answer Questions
1.
2.
What two factors contribute to the dryness of the dry midlatitude climate?
Why is the tundra climate not as cold as the more southerly boreal forest climate?
Short Essay Questions (1 - 2 paragraphs)
1. Discuss the influence of the subtropical high pressure cell on the dry subtropical,
moist subtropical, Mediterranean, and marine west coast climates.
2. Discuss how continental and maritime influences impact the marine west coast, moist
continental, boreal forest, and tundra climates.
Internet Resources
1. Köppen Type B midlatitude climates (Mid-latitude steppe and desert):
<http://208.154.71.60/bcom/eb/article/4/0,5716,109114+10+106248,00.html>
2. Köppen Type C and D climates (Humid subtropical, Mediterranean, marine west
coast, humid continental, continental subarctic):
<http://208.154.71.60/bcom/eb/article/4/0,5716,109114+11,00.html>
3.
Köppen Type climates (Tundra, snow, and ice):
<http://208.154.71.60/bcom/eb/article/4/0,5716,109114+16+106248,00.html >