80)
This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?
A) tropical rain forest
B) subtropical hot desert
C) humid subtropical hot-summer
D) marine west coast
81)
This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?
A) tropical savanna
B) marine west coast
C) Mediterranean
D) subtropical hot steppe
82) Which of the following is incorrect regarding climate regions and climate change?
A) Tropical climates are expanding to higher latitudes.
B) Subtropical high pressures systems and associated dry conditions are moving to higher
latitudes.
C) Many areas are becoming more prone to drought.
D) The boundaries of climate regions are fairly static.
83) Dengue fever, an infectious tropical disease carried by mosquitos, has
A) been nearly wiped out because of climate change related shifts in subtropical high pressure
cells.
B) spread previously unaffected areas due to changes in climatic conditions.
C) never been reported in the U.S., but scientists fear it may arrive due to expansion of Aedes
aegypti mosquitoes.
D) shifted equatorward due to desertification in the subtropics.
10.2 True/False Questions
1) The condition of the atmosphere at any given time and place is called climate.
2) Climates can be stable over several human generations, and also change over longer time
periods (thousands to millions of years).
3) Weather and climate are essentially different terms for the same phenomenon.
4) No two places on the Earth’s surface experience exactly the same climatic conditions.
5) Climatic conditions on Earth are determined based solely on latitude.
6) Temperature and precipitation are the principal components of climate.
7) The Earth’s climate system is the result of interaction of temperature, atmospheric pressure,
atmospheric moisture, and wind and ocean currents.
8) Climatic regions are characterized by distinctive weather patterns.
9) The climate of an area can be classified in different ways depending upon the criteria used to
define it.
10) Once developed, a climate classification system can be considered complete; i.e., it needs no
further revision.
11) A climate classifications based on the interaction of air masses is an example of an empirical
classification.
12) A climate classifications based on monthly temperature and precipitation averages is an
example of an empirical classification.
13) A climograph is a mechanical instrument used for measuring climates.
14) The worlds climatic regions determine to a large extent the location of the world’s biomes.
15) Tropical climates are the most extensive climate regions, occupying 36% of the Earth’s land
and ocean areas.
16) Tropical climates have inconsistent daylengths and insolation throughout the year.
17) The soils in tropical rain forests are nutrient-rich—as indicated by the vast amount of
vegetation that grows there.
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18) Diurnal temperature ranges are often greater than annual temperature ranges in tropical rain
forest climates.
19) Tropical rain forest climates are influenced by subtropical high pressure cells year-round.
20) The ITCZ migrates with the subsolar point and influences the tropical monsoon climates.
21) Tropical monsoon climates have a dry season that lasts one month or more.
22) Tropical monsoon climates are found principally in the interior of continents in the equatorial
region.
23) Potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation in the tropical savanna winter leading to
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water budget deficits.
24) Tropical savanna climates can have two temperature maximums during the year as the
subsolar points moves overhead both before and after the summer solstice.
25) Owing to the small diurnal and annual temperature ranges, tropical climates are considered
“winterless.”
26) The bulk of the world’s population lives within the Tropical climates.
27) Shifting maritime and continental air masses are a causal factor of mesothermal climates.
28) Shifting subtropical high pressure systems may create drier conditions in otherwise humid
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mesothermal climates.
29) In general, as one moves to higher latitudes, summers transition from hot to warm to cool.
30) Humid subtropical climates experience convectional showers in the summer and frontal
showers in the fall, winter and spring, creating year-round precipitation.
31) The seasonal pulse of the monsoons contribute to the drier weather conditions in the marine
west coast climates.
32) Maritime tropical air masses influence the marine west coast climates.
33) Marine west coast climates are unusually mild for their latitude.
34) Marine west coast climates occur only along the west coasts of continents.
35) The Mediterranean climates are characterized by winter precipitation maximums.
36) Shifting cells of subtropical high pressure contribute to the dry-summer conditions in the
Mediterranean dry-summer climates.
37) Chaparral is a type of vegetation found in subarctic climates.
38) Microthermal climates are characterized by increasing seasonality and greater daily and
annual temperature ranges.
39) Microthermal climates are predominately influenced by continental tropical (cT) air masses.
40) North American humid continental hot-summer climates are affected by conflicting maritime
tropical (mT) and continental polar (cP) air masses.
41) Snow melt is an important component to soil-moisture recharge in humid continental mild-
summer climates.
42) Subarctic climates have a long growing season owing to the long summer days.
43) Subarctic climate with very cold winters are common in the Southern Hemisphere.
44) Despite limited precipitation in subarctic climates, subsurfaces are often partially or totally
frozen.
45) Polar climates have extremely low humidity and precipitation and are often considered
“frozen deserts.”
46) The warmest months in tundra climates never average above 10°C (50°F).
47) The evergreen conifers of the taiga are the characteristic vegetation of tundra climates.
48) All months average below freezing in ice-cap and ice-sheet climates.
49) Heave annual snowfalls is a common occurrence in Antarctica.
50) The largest repository of freshwater in the world is in ice-covered Antarctica.
51) Despite very high latitudes, polar marine climates have low annual temperature ranges due to
the moderating effects of the marine environment.
52) Dry climates are by far the most extensive climate over land.
53) Causal factors of dry climates include subsiding air hot, dry air associated with the
subtropical high pressure systems, rain shadow effect, continentality, and cold ocean currents.
54) Tropical, subtropical hot desert climates are generally found on the eastern side of
continents.
55) Tropical, subtropical hot steppe climates experience seasons characterized by dry summers
and somewhat wetter winters brought about by the shifting of the subtropical high.
56) Climate is a statistical construction based on defining assumptions (i.e., criteria) and is,
therefore, not directly observable.
57) The boundaries of climate regions are changing worldwide.
58) Both tropical and subtropical conditions are contracting and moving to lower latitudes.
59) Drought in subtropical regions is one consequence of poleward shifts of warmer climates.
60) Mosquito-borne illnesses, such ad dengue fever, are spreading into new areas as climatic
conditions change.
61) Taller trees in tundra climates may increase albedo.
10.3 Essay Questions
1) You have been asked to design a new climate classification system. Will it be a genetic or
empirical classification system, or a combination thereof? What factors will you consider in your
classification?
2) Describe the weather components that combine to produce climate of the area in which you
live.
3) The climate types discussed in Geosystems are broad scale with the various climate types
covering large (relatively speaking) geographic areas. However, local conditions, the so-called
microclimatology may differ from the broad generalizations. Locate the climatic regime in your
city or town. Compare and contrast the characteristics of this climate to localized climate of your
city or town.
4) Construct a climograph for your city or town.
5) Geosystems list several potential outcomes from shifting climatic zones, such as increased
ranges of dengue fever carrying mosquitoes and increased drought in subtropical regions. What
are some other possible adverse affects associated with climate change and shifting climate
zones? Are there any potential benefits?