Chapter 12- Mid latitude climates
seasonal temperature change greater
than diurnal temp change
I.e., winter to summer temp change is
greater than daily min and max temperature
ranges
Two major source regions of contrasting air
polar high = cold
subtropical high = cold
Mid latitude Temperature range
Circulation is dominated by
Westerlies- eastward motion associated
with subtropical jet and polar jet
Rossby waves- undulations in jetstream that
enable airmass interaction
Temperature is controlled by
Insolation - higher in latitude the
longer the daylight during summer
Airmass origination- where the air gets
its characteristics
Wet all
year (Dfa)
Winter dry
(Dfb)
Summer dry
(BWk)
Most climate categories have several
subcategories
Cf ---> has Cfa, Cfb, Cfc, etc.
Wet climates (no dry season)
Climates dominated by sub-polar low
pressure and frontal generated precipitation
mid latitude cyclonic storms
Typically located on the southeastern side
of continents in Northern Hemisphere
Cfa, Cfb, Cfc climate classifications
Df climates in lower latitudes
Winter dry climates (summer wet)
Generally located in continental
interiors
loses effect of moisture from distant
oceans during colder months
e.g., northern Great Plains
Mongolia
Typically has extreme seasonal temperature
ranges- related to lack of moisture & lat
Continentality- a measure of influence of
continental influence on moisture and
temperature
Summer dry climates (winter wet)
Csa, Csb climates- commonly called a
Mediterranean Climate as that region
experiences this kind of climate
also occurs along western margins of
continents at higher latitudes
•effects of oceans strongly influences
climates
Locations: California, southern Australia,
and near the Mediterranean sea