Tropical Climates
After reading pages 58 in Introduction to Geography, summarize the information in the
following blanks.
Overview
Geographic Location(s)
Near the Equator.
Characteristics
Tropical Climates
Humid
This climate is hot and muggy, and rainy year-around. It is a tropical climate, the temperatures
average about 80 F (26 C). Showers or storms occur almost daily. Some places with Humid
tropical climate have monsoons. It is a Tropical rain forest.
Savanna
This climate has a long, hot, dry season followed by short periods of rain. Rain fall is much lower
than at the equator but still high. Temperatures are hot at the summer. (32 C). Winters get cooler
but rarely get cold. Ther is tall grass and scattered trees. Higher latitudes in the tropics.
Summary Chart
Climate Region
Humid
Climate Region
Savanna
Geo. Location
On and near
the equator.
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
80 F
(26 C)
Average Temp.
Higher
90 F
latitudes in the (32 C)
tropics.
Average Precip.
Plant Life
70 to more
Tropical rain
than 40 inches forest.
Average Precip.
20 inches
(50 cm)
Plant Life
Tall grasses
and scattered
trees.
Dry Climates
After reading pages 59 in Introduction to Geography, summarize the information in the
following blanks.
Overview
Geographic Location(s)
Mainly center on 30 degrees latitude; also middle in continents, on west coasts, or in rain
shadows. Mainly bordering desserts and interiors of large continents.
Dry Climates
Desert
Mainly center on 30 degrees latitude; also middle in continents, on west coasts, or in rain
shadows. Sunny and dry; less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain a year; hot in the tropics; cooler
with wide daytime temperature ranges in middle latitudes. A few hardy plants, such as cacti.
Steppe
Mainly bordering desserts and interiors of large continents. About 10-20 inches (25-50) of
precipitation a year; hot summers and cooler winters with wide temperature ranges during the
day. Shorter grasses; some trees and shrubs by water.
Summary Chart
Climate Region
Desert
Climate Region
Steppe
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
Mainly center on
Sunny and dry
30 degrees
latitude; also Middle in
continents, on
west coasts, or
in rain shadows.
Geo. Location
Mainly bordering
desserts and
interiors of large
Continents.
Average Temp.
Average Precip.
10 inches
(25 cm)
Average Precip.
Hot summers and 10-20
cooler winters.
(25-50cm)
Temperate Climates
Plant Life
A few hardy
plants, such as
cacti.
Plant Life
Shorter grasses;
some trees and
shrubs by water.
After reading pages 59-60 in Introduction to Geography, summarize the information in the
following blanks.
Overview
Geographic Location(s)
West coasts in middle latitudes. East coasts in middle latitudes. West coasts in the uppermiddle latitudes. East coasts and interiors of upper-middle latitudes.
Temperate Climates
Mediterranean
Dry, sunny, warm summers; mild, wetter winters; rain averages 15-20 inches (30-50 cm) a year.
Humid Sub-Tropical
Humid with hot summers; rain year around; in paths of hurricanes and typhoons.
Marine West Coast
Cloudy, mild summers and cool, rainy winters; strong ocean influence.
Humid Continental
Four distinct seasons, long, cold winters and short, warm summers; average precipitation varies.
Summary Chart
Climate Region
Mediterranean
Climate Region
Humid SubTropical
Climate Region
Marine
West Coast
Geo. Location
West coasts
In middle
Latitudes
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
Average Precip.
Dry, sunny
15-20 inches
warm summers, (30-50
mild cm)
wetter winters.
Average Temp.
Average Precip.
East coasts in
Humid with
rain year
Middle
hot summers
around
latitudes
hurricanes and
typhoons
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
West coasts in Cloudy, mild
The upper
summers
Middle
latitudes
Average Precip.
Cool, Rainy
winters.
Plant Life
Scrub
woodland and
grassland.
Plant Life
Mixed forest.
Plant Life
Evergreen
forests.
Climate Region
Humid
Continental
Geo. Location
East coasts
And interiors
Of upperMiddle
Latitudes.
Average Temp.
, long, cold
winters and
short, warm
summers
Average Precip.
Average
precipitation
varies.
Plant Life
Mixed Forests.
Polar Climates
After reading pages 61 in Introduction to Geography, summarize the information in the
following blanks.
Overview
Geographic Location(s)
_Higher latitudes of the interior and east coasts of continents. Coasts in high latitudes. Polar
Regions.
Polar Climates
Subarctic
Extremes of temperature; long, cold winters and short, warm summers; little precipitation.
Tundra
Cold all year; very long, cold winters and very short, cool summers; little precipitation;
permafrost
Ice Cap
Freezing cold; snow and ice; little precipitation
Summary Chart
Climate Region
Subarctic
Climate Region
Tundra
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
Higher latitudes long,
of thecold
interior and
winters and
east coasts of short, warm
continents.
summers
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
Coasts in high Cold all year
latitudes
short, cool
summers
Average Precip.
Plant Life
Little
precipitation
NorthernEvergreen
forests
Average Precip.
little
precipitation
Plant Life
Moss, lichens,
Low shrubs.
Climate Region
Ice Cap
Geo. Location
Average Temp.
Average Precip.
Polar Regions Freezing cold; Little
snow and ice; precipitation
Plant Life
No Vegetation
Highland Climates
After reading pages 61 in Introduction to Geography, summarize the information in the
following blanks.
Overview
Geographic Location(s)
High mountain regions
Highland Climates
Wide range of temperatures and precipitation amounts, depending on elevation and location.
Summary Chart
Climate Region
Highland
Geo. Location
High
mountain
regions A
Average Temp.
Average Precip.
Plant Life
Wide range of Wide range of Ranges from
Temperatures precipitation
forest to
and
amounts
Tundra
Precipitation
amounts