Biological Spectra

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Lecture 2

• Biological Spectra
• Global Climate Classification
• Climate Representations

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Biological Spectra
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SavannaOlokomeji Forest Reserve, Nigeria
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Tropical RainforestBritish Guiana
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Principle Elements of Climate

• Insolation
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Air masses
• Precipitation

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Köppen Climate Classification

• Necessary Data
• Average Monthly Temperature
• Average Monthly Precipitation
• Total Annual Precipitation

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Köppen Climate Classification

• Does not consider
• Winds
• Temperature Extremes
• Precipitation Intensity
• Amount of Sunshine
• Cloud Cover
• Net Radiation

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Köppen Primary Designations

• A Tropical Equitorial Climates
• B Dry Climates
• C Temperate Moist Climates
• D Cold, snowy climates with forest (short
  summers, cold winters)
• E Polar Climates (long cold winters)

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Köppen Secondary Designations

• For A, C, D climates
• f adequate rainfall in all seasons
• w winter dry season
• s summer dry season
• For B climates
• W Desert
• S Semi-arid steppe
• For E climates
• F most severe, perpetual snow ice
• T tundra landscapes with at least one summer
  month without snow cover

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Climate Diagrams
Mean annual temperature ºC
Length of Record (Temp Precip)
Reduced supplementary precipitation curve and
above it, dry period
Relative period of drought (dotted)
Station Name
Mean daily minimum of the coldest month
Mean annual precipitation
Curve of mean monthly precipitation
Elevation
Lowest temperature recorded
Mean monthly rain gt 100 mm
Relative humid season (vertical shading)
Curve of mean monthly temperature
Highest temperature recorded
Months with mean daily minimum below 0 ºC
Mean duration of the frost-free period in days
Mean daily maximum of the warmest month
Late or early frosts occur
Mean daily temperature variations
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Texas Climates
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Climates in the U.S.
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More U.S. Climates
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