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

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

A Polar Low pressure cellA Polar Low pressure cell

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

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