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Wed: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Thr: 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM
Fri: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Course Syllabus can be found at:
http://www.wx4sno.com/portfolio/BSU/spring_2012/
This lecture will be posted AFTER class at:
http://www.wx4sno.com/portfolio/BSU/spring_2012/lectures/
Office Hours
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Climate ClassificationClimate ClassificationLesson 19Lesson 19
ClimographsKöppen Classification System & ProceduresClimate Controls
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Climographs
Climographs, or climatic diagrams, provide an overview of climate at a certain location Can span hours, days, months, but usually are a
one year average
Months are listed along the bottom Monthly temperature is shown as a solid line
Temperature scale along the left side
Monthly precipitation shown as bars Precipitation scale along the right side
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Indianapolis, IN, USA (Dfa)
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Minsk, Belarus (Dfb)
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Yukon Territory, Canada (Dfc)
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Climate Classification Purpose
Simplify the complexities that comprise the climate system
Summarize climate information Schemes minimize the within group variability and
maximize the between group variability All locations within a group are very similar to one another,
but different from other groups
Long-term shifts in climate boundaries Climate variability Biophysical impacts
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Climate Classification Usefulness
Examine the expected weather patterns for climate based forecasting What’s the upcoming winter going to be like?
Lots of rain or lots of snow?
Long-term shifts in climate boundaries Can we expect the “humid South” to shift north,
changing Indiana’s climate over the next century?
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Quantitative Classification: Köppen System
Developed first world “climate classification” in the 1870s
Hierarchical scheme 15 types (e.g. Dfa)
Based on monthly data: Temperature Precipitation
Corresponds with biomes
Wladimer Köppen (1846-1940)
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Köppen System: Modified
Numerous modifications since inception Most widely used—fairly simplistic Defined the ecotone (or biome boundaries)
Grassland-forest ecotone: Paraguay
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Köppen System: ModifiedFirst-Order Divisions
Temperature-based A: Tropical B: Dry C: Mesothermal D: Microthermal E: Polar H: Highland
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Köppen System:Second-Order Divisions
Precipitation based f: year-round rainfall m: monsoon rainfall s: summer dry season w: winter dry season
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Köppen System:Third-Order Divisions
Based on summer temperatures a: hot summers b: warm summers c: cool/mild summer Arid climate
h: hot and dry k: cold and dry
Special: fog occurrence (n / n’)
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Using the Flow Chart
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Using the Flow Chart
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Tropical Climates (A)
Climate: Af
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Mesothermal or Mild Climates (C)
Climate: Cfa
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Microthermal or Severe Midlatitude (D)
Climate: Dfb
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Polar Climates (E)
Climate: ET
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Köppen System: ModifiedMajor Climate Types
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Köppen System: Major World Climates
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Climate Controls
Factors that govern local weather and climate Five major controls of climate
Latitude and season Water proximity (continentality) Oceanic circulation Semi-permanent pressure systems Topography
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Latitude: Insolation Variability
Variation in solar angle striking surface Attenuation: depletion of solar rays
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Latitude: Insolation Variability
Atmospheric path length varies due to the curvature
of the earth
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Earth-Sun Relationships
Rotation: spin of earth about its axis Approximately 15 degrees longitude/hr Daylight length
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Water Proximity: Continentality
Influence of large land mass Variable energy fluxes dependent on surface type and
their respective specific heat capacities
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Oceanic Circulation: Surface
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Oceanic Circulation: Deep Water
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Semi-permanent Pressure Systems
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NH: Surface/Upper Level Flow
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Topography
Normal lapse rate: 6.5° C/km Large diurnal temperature ranges at higher
elevations. Why? Varying insolation absorption rates Orographic effects
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Homework
For the climographs, please use English units °F in
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Extra Credit #2
Postponed!