Where on Earth is the growing season the longest (sometimes year round)?
the Equator
What are the 4 main factors that affect climate?
distance from the Equator, wind and ocean currents, proximity to large bodies of water, and topography
How are the climates of areas closer to large bodies of water?
They typically have milder climates since the bodies of water cool down and heat up more slowly than land
What are the 5 climate types?
tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar
Who developed the system for identifying climate types?
Vladimir Köppen, a Russian-German scientist
How are tropical climates?
warm temps year round with varying precipitation amounts
What are examples of wet tropical climates? (aka tropical monsoon climates)
South Asia and West Africa
Where are dry climates usually found?
on the continental interiors
What are the main types of dry climates?
arid (very dry) and semiarid (minimal precipitation)
What are the 3 basic types of temperate climates?
humid temperate climates, marine west coast, and Mediterranean
What are the 2 types of polar climates?
Tundra and ice cap
Tundra climates vs. ice cap
the tundra has a short, mild summer, ice caps rarely rise above freezing and are warmer