7.9: Review and Additional Resources

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Review

Creosote bush — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\):

Review and assess your learning. Start with the "Important Terms and Concepts" to ensure you know the terminology related to the topic of the chapter and concepts discussed. Move on to the "Review Questions" to answer critical thinking questions about concepts and processes discussed in the chapter. Finally, test your overall understanding by taking the "Self-assessment quiz".

Important Terms and Concepts

Climatology

the study of the long-term state of the atmosphere, or climate
climate

the long-term state of the atmosphere
climate classification

ways to organize the wealth of information about Earth's climate to bring order and understanding to it
empirical classification

classification systems based on observable facts such as temperature and precipitation.
genetic classification

classification systems based on the cause of the climate like solar radiation, air masses, pressure systems, etc.
applied classification

classification systems created for a particular climate-associated problem
Koeppen Climate Classification

an empirical system largely based on annual and monthly means of temperature and precipitation
Tropical rain forest Climate

supports one of the most lush and diverse environments on Earth. Located near the equator, it is characterized by year-round warm temperatures and copious rainfall
Monsoon Climate

abundant rainfall concentrated in the high-sun season, located near the equator with warm temperatures throughout the year
Wet/Dry Tropical Climate

it supports a ground cover of drought resistant grasses with scattered trees, but not enough rainfall to make agriculture a viable, life sustaining activity.
Tropical Steppe Climate

transitional climate between the tropical wet and tropical dry climates
Tropical Desert Climate

an environment of extremes: it is the driest and hottest place on earth. Rainfall is sporadic and in some years no measurable precipitation falls at all.
Dry Summer Subtropical Climate

also known as the "Mediterranean" climate, wet winter/dry summer seasonality
Humid Subtropical Climate

found on the east coast of continents, instable air with moderate amounts of precipitation in most months of the year and subject to cold temperatures during the winter
Humid Continental Climate

noted for its variable weather patterns related to cyclonic storms and its large temperature range due to its interior location in mid-latitude continents
Midlatitude Steppe Climate

shares many of the same characteristics that the tropical steppe has. Both are semi-arid climates that are affected by their interior continental or leeward orographic position. However, the midlatitude steppe experiences larger temperature ranges and receives more total rainfall than the tropical steppe climate.
Midlatitude Desert Climate

shares many of the same climatic characteristics as the tropical deserts, and for many of the same reasons. While the tropical desert climates are considered "hot" deserts following Köppen's classification (BWh), midlatitude deserts are "cold" deserts
Humid (Marine) West Coast Climate

found on the west coast of midlatitude continents and is very humid through most of the year. Its geographic location places it in the path of westerly winds from the ocean that bring cloudy skies, much precipitation, and mild temperatures.
Subarctic Climate

Bitterly cold winters and mild summers result in the largest annual temperature range of any climate on Earth.
Tundra Climate

transitional climate between the Subarctic and Ice cap climates. It is a region of rolling to nearly level terrain almost entirely devoid of trees. Polar climates like the tundra are characterized by very cold temperatures and generally dry conditions. Temperatures never rise above 10^o C (50^oF) during the summer.
Ice Cap Climate

experiences the coldest temperatures on earth. Located near the poles, this climate experiences bitterly cold temperatures throughout the year, especially during the long polar night. The resulting humidity levels are so low that precipitation amounts may be similar to most deserts.

Additional Resources

Use these resources to further explore the world of geography

Multimedia

"The Climate System" (Met Office)

"USGS Public Lecture Series: Climate Change 101 (August 2009)

Climate Connections: NPR series on global warming

"Polar Warming" (PBS) News Hour with Jim Lehrer. November 11, 2004 report on the impact of global climate change on the Arctic.

Climate Change Series - (WGBH Forum Network). Six part series includes topics of global climate change and the Arctic, The Southern Ocean, The Media, Ask the Experts, Northern Forests, The Ross Ice Shelf

"Global Warming" (NPR) All things Considered Sept 11, 2003 segment about puzzling climate change data that suggests "global warming isn't following the rules". (5:07)

"Climate Change" (NPR) May 2004 three-part series on climate change issues facing New York City.

"What's Happening to Alaska's Glaciers? Their Dynamic Response to Changing Climate and Other Factors" Dr. Bruce Molina (USGS) Descriptive Flyer pdf.