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Meteorology --> Atmosphere/Temperature Pressure/Wind Moisture/storms
Climatology --> Climatology Climate Reconstruction
Change & Warming
Applied Climatology
CLIMATOLOGY CHAPTERS -----> Regional Climates Reconstruction Change Warming

Climatology

I. CLIMATE CONCEPTS

A.   Climate Controls

  1. Latitude (U.S.)
  2. Altitudealtitude
  3. land/water relationship
  4. ocean currents
  5. atmospheric circulation (winds)
  6. Topographic Barriers (*Hawaii) (Arizona)
B.   Climatic Scales
  1. microclimate
  2. local climate
  3. mesoclimate
  4. macroclimate
C.   Classification Systems
  1. Organize, Simplify and Generalize Data
  2. Similarities vs. Dissimilarities
  3. Greek classification system (latitude based)
    • torrid zone
    • temperate zone
    • frigid zone
    • ... or winterless, summerless, and both winter & summer?
  4. Thornthwaite System (potential evapotranspiration)
II. MODIFIED KÖPPEN CLIMATE SYSTEM

(based on vegetation types)

A.   Three letter system (descriptive terms)

  1. First (upper case) letter is a general temperature profile based on latitude:
    A -- tropical rainy
    • torrid / winterless
    • coolest month > 64°F
    B -- dry / arid climates
    • relationship between temperature and evapotranspiration.
    • subdivisions based on temps, precip pattern
    • ... even prevalence of fog
    C -- midlatitude rainy, mild winter
    • warm temperate (January temps)
    • coolest month > 27°F
    • warmest month > 50°F
    D -- midlatitude rainy, cold winter
    • cold temperate
    • coolest month < 27°F
    • warmest month > 50°F
    E -- Polar climates
    • frigid / summerless
    • warmest month < 50°F
    H -- highland climates
    • mountainous terrain = rapid elevation & slope changes
    • cause rapid climatic changes over short distances
    • cool/cold climate

  2. Second letter (lower case) = additional precision in precipitation pattern:

    f -- wet year-round
    s -- dry summer season
    w -- dry winter season (precip follows sun)
    m -- monsoon (animation)

  3. Third letter (lower case) = additional precision in temperature pattern:

    a -- hot summer
    b -- warm summer
    c -- cool summer
    d -- very cold winters

B.   "Extra" Letters
  1. ET / EF
  2. BS / BW
    • h = "hot" (avg. annual temp >64°F)
    • k = "cold" (avg. annual temp <64°F)
  3. and still more...


CLIMATOLOGY CHAPTERS -----> Regional Climates Reconstruction Change Warming