Geography, climate types around the world

Due to different latitudes, sea and land locations, and the influence of atmospheric circulation, topography, ocean currents and other factors, the temperature and precipitation conditions are also different in various parts of the world, resulting in different climate types.

For a long time, the judgment of climate types has been a difficult subject for students to master. Faced with climate data, many students feel unable to start or make judgments. Now I will introduce some experiences in judging climate types to the students for reference.

In junior high school geography learning, students must first understand 13 climate types. According to the division of the five zones on the earth, the 13 climate types can be roughly divided into tropical climate, subtropical climate, and temperate zone. climate, boreal climate and alpine plateau climate. In order to facilitate learning and memory, the author has summarized the distribution areas and climate characteristics of the 13 climate types in the table below (see next page) for students’ reference when studying. At the same time, for the understanding and judgment of climate types involved in junior high school geography, that is, reading the annual temperature change curves and monthly precipitation maps of various places, students should keep eight words in mind: temperature determines the zone, and water determines the shape.

1. Look at the monthly average temperature, determine the temperature zone, and identify the major climate types

Any monthly average temperature above 20°C is a tropical climate. Those with an average temperature below 10°C are frigid climates and alpine plateau climates. Those with an average temperature in the coldest month between 0°C and 10°C are subtropical climates or temperate oceanic climates. Those with an average temperature in the coldest month below 0°C. A temperate climate is one in which the average temperature of the hottest month is above 15°C (but there is a special case in a temperate oceanic climate where the average temperature of the coldest month is greater than 0°C).

2. Look at the monthly precipitation and annual precipitation, and subdivide the climate types in the three temperature zones (tropical, temperate, and cold zones)

Tropical climate: In tropical climate, The climate with a lot of precipitation every month (months with a monthly precipitation of more than 100mm is a rainy month) is a tropical rainforest climate, while the climate with little precipitation every month is a tropical desert climate. The tropical monsoon climate or savanna climate has a rainy season (wet season) and a dry season (dry season) in a year. To distinguish between these two climates, one needs to look at the temperature and precipitation. The highest temperature occurs in May, and the annual precipitation varies. Above 1500mm is a tropical monsoon climate.

Subtropical climate: In subtropical climate, the high temperature period is consistent with the rainy period, and the monthly average temperature curve and monthly precipitation histogram are "pagoda-shaped", which are subtropical monsoon climate and subtropical monsoon humid climate (some The textbook combines these two climates into one climate type); if the high temperature period coincides with the drier period, and the monthly average temperature curve and monthly precipitation histogram show a "lip shape", it must be a Mediterranean climate.

Temperate climate: In a temperate climate, if the high temperature period coincides with the rainy period, the monthly average temperature curve and monthly precipitation histogram will also be "pagoda-shaped", which should belong to the temperate monsoon climate or the temperate continental climate. , the way to distinguish between the two is to look at the precipitation: generally the annual precipitation is greater than 400mm and the annual temperature difference is small, it is a temperate monsoon climate, otherwise it is a temperate continental climate. In addition, a temperate oceanic climate has uniform precipitation every month and a summer temperature between 10°C and 20°C; a subarctic coniferous forest climate has cool and short summers, cold and long winters, and very little annual precipitation. A climate type that transitions from temperate climate to cold climate.

Cold zone climate and alpine plateau climate: where the average monthly temperature is below 0°C is an ice sheet climate, and where the hottest monthly average temperature is between 0°C and 10°C is a tundra climate; those in low In the plateau mountains in mid-latitudes, the vertical changes in the natural landscape are significant, and the summer temperatures are particularly low (generally below 10°C). It is an alpine plateau climate. In this way, ice sheet climate, tundra climate and alpine plateau climate are distinguished.

In short, looking at temperature, looking at precipitation, and looking at the climate characteristics formed by the combination of temperature and precipitation are the three keys to distinguish climate types. As long as students analyze climate types from these three aspects, they will encounter The problem will be solved.

3. Issues that need to be paid attention to when judging climate types

The hottest month in the northern hemisphere is July (summer), the coldest month is January (winter), and the hottest month in the ocean is The hotter month and the coldest month are each delayed by one month. Since the seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres are opposite, the hottest and coldest months in the southern hemisphere are exactly opposite to those in the northern hemisphere.

4. Remember the easily confused climate types

1. Savannah climate and tropical monsoon climate.

The difference between the two lies in the annual precipitation: the tropical monsoon climate has more annual precipitation, generally above 1500mm, and is divided into dry and rainy seasons; the savanna climate has less annual precipitation, generally in the Between 750mm and 1000mm, the year is divided into dry and wet seasons.

2. Tropical monsoon climate, subtropical monsoon climate and temperate monsoon climate.

The difference is: ① The lowest average monthly temperature is different: the lowest monthly average temperature in tropical monsoon climate is higher than 20°C, the lowest monthly average temperature in subtropical monsoon climate is higher than 0°C, and the lowest monthly average temperature in temperate monsoon climate is lower than 0°C. ②The amount of precipitation decreases in sequence: the tropical monsoon climate has the most annual precipitation, the subtropical monsoon climate has the second highest annual precipitation, and the temperate monsoon climate has the least annual precipitation.

5. Summary of climate type distribution areas

1. There are four climate types that are only distributed in the northern hemisphere or missing in the southern hemisphere: tropical monsoon climate, temperate monsoon climate, and subarctic coniferous climate. forest climate, tundra climate.

2. There are three types of monsoon climates that are only distributed on the east coast of the continent: tropical monsoon climate, subtropical monsoon climate and temperate monsoon climate.

3. There are three types of climates that are only distributed on the west coast of the continent: tropical desert climate, Mediterranean climate and temperate maritime climate.

4. The continent with the most and most complex climate types is North America, with 11 types; followed by Asia, with 10 types.

5. The six continents (except Antarctica) have the following climates: Mediterranean climate and high mountain plateau climate.