Intro to Physical Oceanography/Climate

Topics of Physical Oceanography:

 Physical oceanography discusses properties such as ______, ______, and ______

o Relationship with important ______properties

 ______, ______, and ______also topics of this branch

o Affects chemical and biological characteristics of oceans

Climate and Weather:

 Weather – the state of the atmosphere at a ______

 Climate – the ______that occurs in an area

o Include the temperature, humidity, and precipitation

 Climate is primarily contributed by the ______

o Also contributed by ______

. Oceans moderate the Earth’s climate

Koppen Climate Classification System:

 Most widely used system of classifying world’s ______

 Categories based on annual and monthly averages of ______and ______

 There are 5 major climatic types:

o ______

o ______o ______

o ______

Tropical Moist Climates:

 Extend northward and southward from the equator to about ______

 Average temperature: ______

 Average precipitation: ______

 Consists of ______

 Subdivisions of classification within the main classification

Dry Climates:

 Climate zone found between ______latitude

 Evaporation and transpiration rates ______

 Often surrounded by ______

 Divided into ______

Moist Mid-latitude Climate with Mild Winters:

 Warm and humid ______; mild ______

 Located on eastern and western borders of most continents

 ______climate is a sub divisional climate zone

o Drastically impacted by surrounding ______

o Good climate for certain ______

Moist Mid-latitude Climate with Severe Winters:

 Warm to cool ______; cold ______

 Cold air masses come from ______

 Average winter temperature around ______ ______locations

Polar Climate:

 Year-round ______temperatures

 ______precipitation

 ______coastal areas of North America, Europe, and Asia

 Human, plant, and animal populations found around the ______