The climate corresponds to the statistical distribution of the atmospheric conditions in an area given for one period of time given. It is distinguished from the Météo which indicates the time in a short-term future and specific zones. The study of the climate is the Climatologie.
The determination of the climate is carried out using averages established starting from statistical and annual and monthly measurements on local atmospheric data: Temperature, precipitations, Sunning, moisture, speed of the Wind. Are also taken into account their recurrence as well as the phenomena exceptionnels.
The term “climate” appears in the French language at the 12th century as derived from the Latin climatis which comes from the Greek klima which indicates the slope of the Ground compared to the Sun. The first climatic cuttings indeed were established according to the slope of the rays of the Sun compared to the horizon. The first description of a climate was carried out by Xia Xiao Zheng, with.

Families of climate

The Globe can be divided into several great climatic zones, according to the Classification of Köppen:

Tropical climates wet

This climate is present on both sides of the equator up to 15 at 25 degrees of Latitude northern and southern. The average monthly temperature is all the year above 18°. One distinguishes a Saison dries and a wet Saison. The more one approaches the equator and the more the wet season lengthens. The tropical littorals in the west can undergo a very important variation of temperature.

Dry tropical climates

The dry tropical climate is characterized by an evaporation higher than precipitations and an annual average temperature higher than 18°C. One distinguishes a few months when precipitations can occur. The vegetation is sometimes absent. It extends between 5 and 10 degrees from Latitude northern and southern. This climate is characteristic of the desert or semi-desert areas great continental areas often surrounded by mountains, in the west and the center of the continents.

Climates known as moderate

See also: moderate Climate

This climate is in general characterized by the moderate seasons. One divides it into two large sub-groups: the oceanic Climate with fresh summers and soft and wet winters influenced by the proximity of the oceans where one finds the hot currents (western frontage of the continents) and the continental Climat with hot and stormy summers and cold and rather dry winters (frontage is continents). The oceanic Climat is marked by a low thermal amplitude (more or less 10°), which is accentuated in the interior of the continents (until 40°). Precipitations about the meter and are especially well distributed. One finds it between 35 and 50 degrees of latitude in the hemisphere northern and southern (Paris, London, Dublin, Oslo, etc.). Berlin would be the Eastern limit in Europe. Certain authors speak about climate hyperoceanic for the strip of land where the influence of the ocean is day laborer by the fog of sea (Vancouver, Seattle, Rouen, Brussels, etc.). See also oceanic Climate.

The continental Climat is distinguished by a strong thermal amplitude (exceeding the 40°) and from precipitations about the meter but distributed especially for the summer period. The influence of the ocean which cannot be felt seen the head office of the winds, it is moisture due to the evapotranspiration of the grounds (forests and marshes) and of the lakes which provides precipitations (Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Mineapolis, Winnipeg, Calgary). The coastal towns of the Eastern frontages undergo especially this climate in spite of their proximity of the oceans (New York, Boston, Washington, Shanghai, Seoul). There too certain authors speak about climate hypercontinental for the interior regions of the large continents where only the ground influences the climate (Yakoutsk, Irkoutsk (Siberia), Dawson, Klondike, Yellowknife (Canada). The extreme temperatures are often astonishing (+36°C and -64°C for Snag with the Yukon). See also continental Climate.

Climates subarctic

This climate is an intermediary between the moderate climate and the polar climate. The summers are less hot and the winters more rigorous than in the moderate climate. The vegetation corresponds to the Northern forest or Taïga. One finds this type of climate only in the Northern Hemisphere: central part of all the Canada, major part of the Russia and the North-East of the China. It is an area little inhabited at the short and fresh summers. The few cities known under this climate are: Labrador City, Schefferville, Chibougamau, Rouyn-Noranda, Timmins, Uranium City, Strong McMurray with the Canada (all the mining cities). In Eurasia, Western Siberia corresponds to this climate and one finds little city or village there known except Moscow which is in extreme cases of the climates moderate continental and subarctic. The climate subarctic corresponds to name “climate moderate cold without dry season with any hot month (+22°C)” (Dfc) of Köppen.

Polar climates

See also: polar Climate

The polar climate is characterized by cold temperatures all the year, the coldest month being always below -40°. The monthly average temperature exceeds -50°C on the Inlandsis. Strong wind and persistent, the blizzard. It is characteristic of the coasts north of the America, the Europe and the Asia, as well as Greenland and the Antarctic.

A classification simpler and more commonly used exists too. It makes it possible to identify a climate by simple a Diagramme ombrothermic. Each climate, except the equatorial climate, has two standard diagrams, one for the areas of the Northern hemisphere, the other for the southern hemisphere. If the equatorial climate does not have this characteristic, it is that he does not know seasons, and is close to the equator.

See too

Related articles

  • thermo-hygrometrical Microclimate

External bond

  • Sagascience File of CNRS: Climate

  • Animations on the climate and the changes climatiquessur the site of the international polar Foundation

  • Climate of the glaciations (Dryas, PAG
  • isotopic stages

Simple: Climate

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