NORTH AMERICA CLIMATES
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Climates are often differentiated by the averages of temperature experienced throughout the year,
as well as total annual precipitation and the seasonal distribution of precipitation.
Before starting this exercise:
-review the major features of the global circulation patterns of the atmosphere
-consider seasonal shifts of the global pressure belts
-remember the controls of temperature of a location
Controls of temperature at a location:
-Latitude – dominate control of the receipt of solar energy
-Location on a Continent – determines the degree of marine influence or degree
of continentality
-Topography – mean annual temperature decreases with elevation or barrier to air masses
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1) On the North America map:
-Draw and label the January average temperature lines in blue (or ink)
-Draw and label the July average temperature lines in red (or pencil)
-Shade the areas of North America that receive more than 30 inches of rain per year
2) There are six climographs on the attached map. There are 10 possible locations on the North
America map. Determine which climograph fits the conditions for the site and label under
the climograph the location. Next determine which Climatic Type fits the climograph and
label it under the climograph.
3) Which climograph has:
-driest warm summers
-wettest warm summers
-dry moderate winters
-wet moderate winters
4) From which direction do most weather patterns move across the United States?
5) After a high pressure cell of air dominates an area, what are the general conditions created?
6) Describe how a high north-south trending mountain range would affect local precipitation on
the western edge of the continent
7) What two ways might oceans affect an adjacent continent’s climate?
Koppen Climate Classification Chart
A Tropical humid
B Dry
C Mild Mid-Latitude
D Severe Mid-Latitude
E Polar
H Highland
Af
Tropical wet
No dry season
Am
Tropical monsoonal
Short dry season; heavy monsoonal rains in other months
Aw
Tropical savanna
Winter dry season
BWh
Subtropical desert
Low-latitude desert
BSh
Subtropical steppe
Low-latitude dry
BWk
Mid-latitude desert
Mid-latitude desert
BSk
Mid-latitude steppe
Mid-latitude dry
Csa
Mediterranean
Mild with dry, hot summer
Csb
Mediterranean
Mild with dry, warm summer
Cfa
Humid subtropical
Mild with no dry season, hot summer
Cwa
Humid subtropical
Mild with dry winter, hot summer
Cfb
Marine west coast
Mild with no dry season, warm summer
Cfc
Marine west coast
Mild with no dry season, cool summer
Dfa
Humid continental
Humid with severe winter, no dry season, hot summer
Dfb
Humid continental
Humid with severe winter, no dry season, warm summer
Dwa
Humid continental
Humid with severe, dry winter, hot summer
Dwb
Humid continental
Humid with severe, dry winter, warm summer
Dfc
Subarctic
Severe winter, no dry season, cool summer
Dfd
Subarctic
Severe, very cold winter, no dry season, cool summer
Dwc
Subarctic
Severe, dry winter, cool summer
Dwd
Subarctic
Severe, very cold and dry winter, cool summer
ET
Tundra
Polar tundra, no true summer
EF
Ice Cap
Perennial ice