Fundamentals of Physical Geography
Fundamentals of Physical Geography
2nd Edition
ISBN: 9781133606536
Author: James Petersen
Publisher: CENGAGE L
Question
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Chapter 7, Problem 1PA

a)

To determine

The classification of climate station “A” from the data provided.

a)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “A” is BWh.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “A” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The site “A” is located in the northern hemisphere as the summer months fall from April to September.
  • Precipitation in the driest winter months (June and August with precipitation) is less than one-tenth the precipitation of the wettest summer month (July with precipitation 1.1cm) and climate classification in site “A” can be considered as a dry winter and can be represented using letter w. The letter w denotes “winter”. It can be calculated as follows:

PrecipitationinJune and August=0.0cmPrecipitationinJuly=1.1cm110(1.1)=0.11cm0.0cm

  • Hence, the graph (w) in Table 1 from appendix C is referred to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation to assign the classification of the climate station.
  • Now, by comparing the mean annual temperature (29°C) with mean annual precipitation (1.6cm) of the site “A”, the point coincides at BW.
  • The first letter of climate in site “A” is B, second letter is w, and third must be h or k. Since the mean annual temperature is 29°C, which is above 18°C (64.4°F), the site “A” is further classified as h.
  • The classification for the site “A” is BWh. The climate type is desert.

b)

To determine

The classification of climate station “B” from the data provided.

b)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “B” is Aw.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “B” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The site also has wet summer as the precipitation rates are higher on July to September.
  • Since the site has wet summer, graphs (s) in Table 1 from appendix C are referred to assign the classification of the climate station.
  • Now, by comparing the mean annual temperature (26°C) with mean annual precipitation (87.2cm) of the site “B”, the point does not coincide at BW/BS/humid in both the graphs.
  • The site has a tropical climate (A) as the temperature of the coolest month (January) is 21°C which is higher than 18°C (64.4°F). Hence, using Graph 2 in Table 1 to determine which tropical climate the site represents.
  • The mean annual precipitation (87.2cm) and the rainfall of the driest months (0.2cm) of the site “B” fall under Aw.
  • The classification for the site “B” is Aw. The climate type is tropical savanna.

c)

To determine

The classification of climate station “C” from the data provided.

c)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “C” is Am.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “C” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The site has neither a dry winter (w) nor a dry summer. Instead, it has an even distribution of precipitation (f).
  • Hence, graph 1(f) in Table 1 is used to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation. The mean annual temperature is 24°C and the mean annual precipitation is 149.0cm. From the graph, the given climate does not fall under humid zone. Hence, we can further move to check whether the climate is tropical.
  • Since the temperature of the coolest month (21°C) is higher than 18°C (64.4°F), the site has a tropical (A) climate. To determine which tropical climate the site represents, the graph 2 in Table 1 is used.
  • The mean annual precipitation of the site “C” is 149.0cm. Hence, the climate site falls under Am.
  • The classification for the site “C” is Am. The climate type is tropical monsoon.

d)

To determine

The classification of climate station “D” from the data provided.

d)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “D” is Csa.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “D” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The precipitation in of the driest month in summer (January) has less than 3 cm (1.2 in.) of precipitation and less than one third of the precipitation of the wettest winter month (June), the climate classification in site “D” is considered a dry summer and can be represented using letter s. The letter s denotes “summer”. It can be calculated as follows:

PrecipitationinJanuary=0.8cmPrecipitationinJune=18.0cm13(0.8)=0.27cm18.0cm

  • Hence, the graph (s) in Table 1 from appendix C is referred to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation to assign the classification of the climate station.
  • Now, by comparing the mean annual temperature (18°C) with mean annual precipitation (88.1cm ) of the site “D”, the point coincides at humid and it may be A, C, or D.
  • Since the temperature of the coldest month (13°C) is between 18°C (64.4°F) and 0°C (32°F), the site has a mesothermal climate (C).
  • The first letter of climate in site “D” is C, second letter is s, and third must be a, b, c, or d, since this site has its warmest month (23°C) above 22°C (71.6°F)
  • The classification for the site “D” is Csa. The climate type is Mediterranean.

e)

To determine

The classification of climate station “E” from the data provided.

e)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “E” is BSk.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “E” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The site “E” is located in the northern hemisphere as the summer months fall from April to September.
  • The precipitation in of the driest months in summer (January, February, March and November) has less than 3 cm (1.2 in.) of precipitation and less than one third of the precipitation of the wettest winter month (August), the climate classification in site “E” is considered a dry summer and can be represented using letter s. The letter s denotes “summer”. It can be calculated as follows:

Precipitationindriest months=0.1cmPrecipitationinWettest month=3.3cm13(0.1)=0.03cm3.3cm

  • Hence, the graph (s) in Table 1 from appendix C is referred to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation to assign the classification of the climate station.
  • Now, by comparing the mean annual temperature (14°C) with mean annual precipitation (20.6cm ) of the site “E”, the point coincides at BS.
  • The first letter of climate in site “E” is B, second letter is s, and third must be h or k. Since the mean annual temperature is 14°C, which is below 18°C (64.4°F), the site “E” is further classified as k.
  • The classification for the site “E” is BSk. The climate type is Steppe.

f)

To determine

The classification of climate station “F” from the data provided.

f)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “F” is Af.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “F” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The site has neither a dry winter (w) nor a dry summer. Instead, it has an even distribution of precipitation (f).
  • Hence, graph 1(f) in Table 1 is used to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation. The mean annual temperature is 27°C and the mean annual precipitation is 243.8cm. From the graph, the given climate does not fall under humid zone. Hence, it can be further moved to check whether the climate is tropical.
  • This site has constant monthly temperature values and year-round precipitation.
  • Since the temperature of the coolest month (26°C) is higher than 18°C (64.4°F), this site has a tropical (A) climate. Hence, using graph 2 in Table 1 to determine which tropical climate the site represents.
  • Since the mean annual precipitation (243.8cm) and the rainfall of the driest month (6.6cm) have at least 6cm of precipitation, the site “F” falls under Af.
  • The classification for the site “F” is Af. The climate type is tropical rainforest.

g)

To determine

The classification of climate station “G” from the data provided.

g)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “G” is BSh.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “G” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The site “G” is located in the northern hemisphere as the summer months fall from April to September.
  • The precipitation in of the driest months in summer (June, July, and August) has less than 3 cm (1.2 in.) of precipitation and less than one third of the precipitation of the wettest winter months (January and December), the climate classification in site “G” is considered a dry summer and can be represented using letter s. The letter s denotes “summer”. It can be calculated as follows:

Precipitationindriest months=0.0cmPrecipitationinWettest month=6.6cm13(0.0)=0cm6.6cm

  • Hence, the graph (s) in Table 1 from appendix C is referred to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation to assign the classification of the climate station.
  • Now, by comparing the mean annual temperature (20°C) with mean annual precipitation (26.7cm) of the site “G”, the point coincides at BS.
  • The first letter of climate in site “G” is B, second letter is s, and third must be h or k. Since the mean annual temperature is 20°C, which is above 18°C (64.4°F), the site “G” is further classified as h.
  • The classification for the site “G” is BSh. The climate type is Steppe.

h)

To determine

The classification of climate station “H” from the data provided.

h)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “H” is Csb.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “H” does not have an E climate because it has several months averaging above 10°C.
  • The precipitation in of the driest months in summer (July, and August) has less than 3 cm (1.2 in.) of precipitation and less than one third of the precipitation of the wettest winter months (January and December), the climate classification in site “H” is considered a dry summer and can be represented using letter s. The letter s denotes “summer”. It can be calculated as follows:

Precipitationindriest months=0.3cmPrecipitationinWettest months=17.0cm13(0.3)=0.1cm17.0cm

  • Hence, graph 1(s) in Table 1 is used to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation. The mean annual temperature  is 11°C with mean annual precipitation 97.6cm of the site “H”.
  • From the graph, it can be identified that the given climate is humid and it may be A, C, or D.
  • Since the temperature of the coldest month (9°C) is between 18°C (64.4°F) and 0°C (32°F) and more than one month has a temperature over 10oC, the site has a mesothermal climate (C).
  • The first letter of climate in site “H” is C, second letter is s, and third must be a, b, c, or d. This site has its warmest month (14°C) below 22°C (71.6°F), with at least four months above 10°C (50°F).
  • Hence, the classification for the site “H” is Csb. The climate type is Mediterranean.

i)

To determine

The classification of climate station “I” from the data provided.

i)

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1PA

The classification for the climate station “I” is Cfb.

Explanation of Solution

  • According to the given table, the site “I” has several months averaging above 10°C. Therefore, it does not have E climate.
  • The site “I” neither has a dry summer nor a dry winter. Instead, it has a relatively even distribution of precipitation (f).
  • Hence, graph 1(f) in Table 1 is used to compare the mean annual temperature with mean annual precipitation. The mean annual temperature  is 9°C with mean annual precipitation 65.8cm of the site “I”.
  • From the graph, it can be identified that the given climate is humid and it may be A, C, or D.
  • Since the temperature of the coldest month (3°C) is between 18°C (64.4°F) and 0°C (32°F) and more than one month has a temperature over 10oC, the site “I” has a mesothermal (C) climate.
  • The first letter of climate in site “I” is C, second letter is f, and third must be a, b, c, or d. Since the average temperature of the warmest month (14°C) is above 22°C, with at least four months above 10°C (50°F). The climate classification for site “I” is Cfb. The climate type is Mediterranean.

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