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Chapter 13- Polar and highland climates
temperature is key (again)
•cold due to limited solar radiation
•low angle of incidence of insolation
Moisture is relatively scarce all the time
except where oceans intercede
Annual fluctuation is much greater than diurnal changes
Earth - Sun relationships
Chapter 13- Polar and highland climates
temperature is key (again)
•cold due to limited solar radiation
•low angle of incidence of insolation
Moisture is relatively scarce all the time
except where oceans intercede
Annual fluctuation is much greater than diurnal changes
Earth - Sun relationships
Ice Pack extent changes with seasonal variation in insolation
extent influenced by gyres
Changes atmosphere/ ocean interactions when it is present
•especially moisture
Because the north pole is mostly ocean, climate classification schemes do not apply to the northern Pole
•Exception is Greenland and other small land masses; northern extents of major continents (e.g., northern Russia, North America)
•Would classify as as polar wet climate
Antarctica is a different matter…
•Land is present although covered with ice
Because the north pole is mostly ocean, climate classification schemes do not apply to the northern Pole
•Exception is Greenland and other small land masses; northern extents of major continents (e.g., northern Russia, North America)
•Would classify as as polar wet climate
Antarctica is a different matter…
•Land is present although covered with ice
Polar Lows (Arctic hurricanes)
•much smaller than in the lower latitudes
•less severe wind speed than in lower latitudes
Form along the margins of continents in open water
Bergeron called these intense systems extra-tropical hurricanes
called Arctic hurricanes by modern climatologists
Polar Lows (Arctic hurricanes)
•much smaller than in the lower latitudes
•less severe wind speed than in lower latitudes
Form along the margins of continents in open water
Bergeron called these intense systems extra-tropical hurricanes
called Arctic hurricanes by modern climatologists
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A Polar Low pressure cellA Polar Low pressure cell
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
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Antarctica
Much colder than arctic
•Winter is colder due to less insolation
•Land rather than water
•Elevation is much higher
•Cold water ocean current
Arctic regions act as an energy sink
more energy is lost than is gained
Fun stuff in Antarctica! Which way to the beach?!Fun stuff in Antarctica! Which way to the beach?!
Polar wet climates
•found in the Antarctic continent
•polar means its bitterly cold in winter; cold in summer
•never actually gets warmer than 40° F in summer
Wetter in summer because in winter, air is cooler, and drier.
•What precip. does fall is primarily snow
Polar wet climates
•found in the Antarctic continent
•polar means its bitterly cold in winter; cold in summer
•never actually gets warmer than 40° F in summer
Wetter in summer because in winter, air is cooler, and drier.
•What precip. does fall is primarily snow
Highland climates
Regions at higher elevations above sea level
•Affects temperature
•Cools -7.7 °F per 1000 ft
•Influences moisture
•Cooler air holds less moisture
Other factors relate to these two…
Highland climates
Regions at higher elevations above sea level
•Affects temperature
•Cools -7.7 °F per 1000 ft
•Influences moisture
•Cooler air holds less moisture
Other factors relate to these two…
More cold weather fun in highlands
More cold weather fun in highlands
Highlands present some interesting micro and mesoscale climate conditions
slope steepness and aspect are important
influences the ability of sunlight to strike the surface and the angle at which it strikes it
Highlands present some interesting micro and mesoscale climate conditions
slope steepness and aspect are important
influences the ability of sunlight to strike the surface and the angle at which it strikes it