Climatic Regions

Points To Be Covered
Regional Approaches
Climatic Regions
Basis Of Climatic Regions
Classification of climate
Factors affecting those climates.
Effects On Flora And Fauna Of Those Regions
Effect On agriculture
Economic activities in Those Regions
Suitable Conditions For Business

Regional Approaches
Regional Geographyis the study
of world regions.

Attention is paid to unique

characteristics of a particular
region such as natural elements,
human elements which covers the
techniques of delineating space
intoregions.

approach to geographical study,

comparable toquantitative

Climatic Regions
The world has several climatic
zones.

Climatic Regions
The classification is based on
maximum and minimum
temperatures as well as the total
and seasonal distribution of
precipitation.

Simple summary of climatic zones

Polar - very cold and dry all year

Temperate - cold winters and mild
summers
Arid - dry, hot all year

Climatic Regions
The Monsoon
Climate :characterized by
seasonal reversal of wind direction
associated with alternating period
of rainfall and drought.
Dry Climates
The Desert Climate :The chief
feature of any desert climate is the
scarcity of water. Precipitation is not
only scanty but also erratic, and

Climatic Regions
The Humid Sub-Tropical Climate
The Marine West European
Climate
Humid Mid-Latitudes Climates
The Taiga Climate
The Cool East Coast Climate
The Continental Climate
Polar Climates The Tundra
Climate
The Ice Cap Climate

Basis Of Climatic Regions

There are 5 factors which affect
climate.
Latitude
Temperature range increases with
distance from the equator. Also,
temperatures decrease as you
move away from the equator. This
is because the suns rays are
dispersed over a larger area of land
as you move away from the
equator. This is due to the curved

Basis Of Climatic Regions

Winds
If winds are warm - they have been
blown from a hot area - they will
raise temperatures. If winds have
been blown from cold areas they
will lower temperatures.
Distance from the sea
(continentally)
Land heats and cools faster than
the sea. Therefore coastal areas
have a lower temperature range

some facts about climate and its

classification
The sun's rays hit the equator at a direct angle
between 23 N and 23 S latitude. Radiation that
reaches the atmosphere here is at its most intense.
At other places it will be less intense
Location of these hot and cold air mass region.
Atmospheric circulation caused be trade winds.
Westerlies
Latitude

Koppen climate classification

system
A- Tropical Moist Climates: all months have average
temperatures above 18 Celsius.

B - Dry Climates: with deficient precipitation during most

of the year.2 subgroups S- semi arid or steppe
W-arid or desert
C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters.
D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters.
E - Polar Climates: with extremely cold winters and
summers.

Three basic climatic group

Group 1:Low-latitudeClimates: controlled by
equatorial and tropical air masses.
Tropical Moist Climates (rainforest)
Heavy rainfall approx 250 cm annually.
Temperature of 27C mostly stay the same
Humidity between 77% to 88%
High surface heat and humidity cause cumulus
clouds

 Average temperature: 18 C (F)

Annual Precipitation: 262 cm. (103 in.)
Latitude Range: 10 S to 25 N
Global Position: Amazon Basin; Congo Basin
of equatorial Africa; East Indies, from
Sumatra to New Guinea.

Wet-Dry Tropical Climatessavanna

seasonal change occurs between wet tropical air
masses and dry tropical air masses.
As a result, there is a very wet season and a very
dry season.
Trade winds dominate during the dry season.
It gets a little cooler during this dry season but will
become very hot just before the wet season.

 Temperature Range: 16 C
Annual Precipitation: 0.25 cm. (0.1 in.). All
months less than 0.25 cm. (0.1 in.)
Latitude Range: 15 to 25 N and S
Global Range: India, Indochina, West
Africa, southern Africa, South America and
the north coast of Australia

Dry Tropical Climatedesert biome

Found in low latitude deserts approximately

between 18 to 28 in both hemispheres.
The dry arid desert is a true desert climate,
and covers 12 % of the Earth's land surface.
Temperature Range: 16 C
Annual Precipitation: 0.25 cm (0.1 in). All
months less than 0.25 cm (0.1 in).
Latitude Range: 15 - 25 N and S.

Global Range: southwestern United

States and northern Mexico; Argentina;
north Africa; south Africa; central part
of Australia.

Group 2:Mid-latitudeClimates: Climates in this zone

are affected by two different air-masses.
Dry Mid latitude Climatessteppe
Characterized by grasslands, this is a semi arid
climate.
It can be found between the desert climate and
more humid climates of the A, C, and D groups.
If it received less rain, the steppe would be
classified as an arid desert.

 Temperature Range: 24 C (43 F).

Annual Precipitation: less than 10 cm (4 in)
in the driest regions to 50 cm (20 in) in the
moister steppes.
Latitude Range: 35 - 55 N.

Global Range: Western North America

(Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, Great
Plains); Eurasian interior, from steppes
of eastern Europe to the Gobi Desert
and North China.

Mediterranean Climate
chaparral biome
This is a wet-winter, dry-summer climate.
Extremely dry summers are caused by the
sinking air of the subtropical highs and may last
for up to five months.

Temperature Range: 7 C (12 F)

Annual Precipitation: 42 cm (17 in).
Latitude Range: 30 - 50 N and S

Global Position: central and southern

California; coastal zones bordering the
Mediterranean Sea; coastal Western Australia
and South Australia; Chilean coast; Cape Town
region of South Africa.

Dry Midlatitude Climates (grasslands

biome)
Annual temperatures range widely. Summers are
warm to hot, but winters are cold.
These dry climates are limited to the interiors of
North America and Eurasia.

Temperature Range: 31 C (56F).

Annual Precipitation: 81 cm. (32 in.).
Latitude Range: 30 - 55 N and S

Global Position: western North America (Great

Basin, Columbia Plateau, Great Plains); Eurasian
interior.

Moist Continental ClimateDeciduous

Forest biome
This climate is in the polar front zone - the
battleground of polar and tropical air masses
Seasonal changes between summer and winter
are very large.
Daily temperatures also change often.
Abundant precipitation falls throughout the year.
Precipitation Increased in summer season.

 Temperature Range: 31 C (56 F)

Average Annual Precipitation: 81 cm (32 in).
Latitude Range: 30 - 55 N and S (Europe: 45 60 N).

Global Position: eastern parts of the United

States and southern Canada; northern China;
Korea; Japan; central and eastern Europe

Group 3:High-latitudeclimates: Polar and arctic air

masses dominate these regions.
Canada and Siberia are two air-mass sources
which fall into this group.
Boreal forest Climatetaiga biome
This is a continental climate with long,
very cold winters, and short, cool
summers
found in the polar air mass region.
Precipitation increases during
summer months, although annual
precipitation is still small.

 Temperature Range: 41 C (74 F), lows;

-25 C (-14 F), highs; 16 C (60 F).
Average Annual Precipitation: 31 cm (12
in).
Latitude Range: 50 - 70 N and S.
Global Position: central and western
Alaska; Canada, from the Yukon Territory
to Labrador; Eurasia, from northern
Europe across all of Siberia to the Pacific
Ocean.

Tundra Climatetundra biome

The tundra climate is found along arctic coastal
areas.
The winter season is long and severe.
A short, mild season exists, but not a true summer
season.
Moderating ocean winds keep the temperatures
from being as severe as interior regions.

 Temperature Range: -22 C to 6 C (-10 F to 41 F).

Average Annual Precipitation: 20 cm (8 in).
Latitude Range: 60 - 75 N.
Global Position: arctic zone of North America;
Hudson Bay region; Greenland coast; northern
Siberia bordering the Arctic Ocean.

Highland Climate (H)Alpine Biome

Highland climates are cool to cold,
found in mountains and high plateaus.
The climate of a highland area is
closely related to the climate of the
surrounding biome.
The highlands have the same seasons
and wet and dry periods as the biome
they are in.
Climate change rapidly on mountains
becoming colder the higher the altitude
gets.
They work as water storage areas.

 Temperature Range: -18 C to 10 C (-2 F

to 50F)
Average Annual Precipitation: 23 cm (9
in.)
Latitude Range: found all over the world

Global Position: Rocky Mountain Range

in North America, the Andean
mountain range in South America, the
Alps in Europe, Mt. Kilimanjaro in
Africa, the Himalayans in Tibet, Mt. Fuji
in Japan

Factors Influencing the World

Climatic Regions
So far in this online textbook we have
discovered that the climate of a
particular place is the function of a
number of factors. These factors
include:
1) Latitude and its influence on
solar radiationreceived.
2)Air massinfluences.
3) Location of globalhighand
low pressurezones.

4) Heat exchange from ocean currents.

5) Distribution of mountain barriers.
6) Pattern of prevailing winds.
7) Distribution of land and sea.
8) Altitude

FLORA
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular
region or time, generally the naturally occurring
or the indigenous native plant life.

FAUNA
Fauna is the animal life occurring
in a particular region or time,
generally the naturally occurring
or the indigenous native animal
life.

FLORA AND FAUNA OF

MOUNTANIOUS REGIONS
Himachal Himalaya known for its
natural magnificence gets its
character from its culture, people
and their lifestyle

The compositions of the forests on

this mighty range are effected by
the combined effect of altitude,
rainfall and latitude. The rainfall,
mainly
from
the
monsoons,
decreases from the east to the
west. Comparatively, in winter, due
to the influence of tropical west
wind drift, the northwest areas
have more precipitation in the form
of rain and snow.

The Himalayas are covered with different array

of flora and fauna. With its exotic wildlife and
natural beauty it has always attracted travellers
and tourist across the world.
The eastern and the western regions of the
Himalayas are covered with varied forests. The
Western region is known for blue pine, spruce,
silver fir, junipers, conifers deodar, and
Chirpine, which are found in abundance.
While the eastern Himalayas are famous for
maples, rhododendrons, alder, and birch, oaks,
laurels, and dwarf willows. The region of Assam
is known for lush evergreen forests and bamboo
and tall grasses.

TYPES OF FORESTS
FOUND IN HIMALAYAS
Tropical Rain forests-

The tropical rainforests are dense,

evergreen, gloomy and similar to the
forests of the Amazon basin and other
equatorial areas. They occur mainly in
the eastern Himalayas which receives
very heavy rainfall.
Tropical Deciduous forests-

THE WILDLIFE IN HIMALAYAS

The wildlife in Himalayan region is
tremendous be it in case of
mammals,reptiles,amphibians or even
fishes in the Himalayan lakes.
These animals live in various habitats
ranging from dry temperate to areas
above tree line
Like the plant kingdom the animals
also need to adapt with the conditions
in the mountains like the biting

 Several behaviour and

physiological adaptations have
developed in these animals due to
the extreme climatic conditions
present in many parts of Himalayas.
Some animals hibernate in winter
while the other resist the cold with
the help of their fur and bushy tails.

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS

ABOUT IMPACT OF CLIMATIC
CHANGES ON FLORA AND
FAUNA
Cassia fistula, or the kani konna,

the yellow flower associated with

Vishu
celebrations
in
Kerala,
bloomed so late last year that it
couldn't be used for the festivities.
The insectivorous birds used to
have their eggs hatched by
February-March , but now they do it
much earlier, in accordance with
the change.
Deforestation has reduced green

EFFECT OF CLIMATIC
REGIONS ON FARMING
Historical climate change has had a
profound
effect
on
current
biogeography, so we can expect our
ongoing and rapid climate change, to
have as great an effect. Climate change
has important implications for nearly
every aspect of life on Earth, and effects
are already being felt.

Temperature effectsaverage,
minimum or maximum can be
important determinants of plant
distribution
For example the Palmae/Arecaceae
are cold intolerant as their single
meristem is susceptible to frost.

Rainfall is also an important

determinant: for example it affects
the balance of grasses to woody

Examples of Plants Threatened

by Climate Change
Bluebells - under threat from
warmer springs

The Quiver Tree - threatened by

encroaching desert

Canada
Climate-Simiarid a humid
continental in the south, subarctic
in the north
Economic activity- farming,
mining and oil (oil sands)

Pacific region

Climate-Marine west coast along the coast,

colder in the rocky mountain, winter surfing is
the popular sport

Economic activity- farming and foresty

are important but mining shipping and
hyderoelectric power are the largest industries.

Northern region
Climate- Tundra in the north, subarctic in the
south; dog sled racing is the popular sport
Economic activity- Hunting and gathering,
nomadic herding, mining, government work.

The Australian dairy

industry
-Australian dairy is a $13 billion farm,
manufacturing and export industry. With a
farmgate value alone of $4 billion
Diary farmers-6700
Production-9.5 billion lit/year
Directly employs-43000
Indirectly employs- more than 1000000

Canada
Climate-Simiarid a humid
continental in the south, subarctic
in the north
Economic activity- farming,
mining and oil (oil sands)

Pacific region
Climate-Marine west coast along the coast,
colder in the rocky mountain, winter surfing is
the popular sport

Economic activity- farming and foresty

are important but mining shipping and
hyderoelectric power are the largest industries.

Northern region
Climate- Tundra in the north, subarctic in the
south; dog sled racing is the popular sport
Economic activity- Hunting and gathering,
nomadic herding, mining, government work.

The Australian dairy

industry
-Australian dairy is a $13 billion farm,
manufacturing and export industry. With a
farmgate value alone of $4 billion
Diary farmers-6700
Production-9.5 billion lit/year
Directly employs-43000
Indirectly employs- more than 1000000