The World - Climate graphs from places within the cold and subtropical zones

Climate zones
978-3-14-100890-6 | Page 16 | Ill. 4
The World | Climate graphs from places within the cold and subtropical zones | Climate zones | Karte 16/4

Overview

Climate classifications are an important basis of geographical spatial analyses. Presented in the form of a map, they systematically show the spatial distribution of climatic conditions on earth. They provide a good overview of the most important climatic characteristics of a region. In climate maps, however, only a few climate parameters can be taken into account. Only in this way, however, is it possible to abstract, typify and classify certain climates despite the continuous change in climatic conditions on earth.

The starting points for the classification using the Siegmund/Frankenberg approach are the three climate elements of temperature, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration. By consistently referring to these, each climate can be assigned without doubt to a certain climate zone and a specific climate type.

While maps 16.1-2 and 17.3 present elements of the climate classification or summarise statements from it in simple way, map 16.4 shows their cartographic realisation in combination with the three climate keys, in addition to representations of coastal fog and ocean currents.

About the climate graphs

The climate graphs consist of three axes. The horizontal axis shows the individual months of the year. The left vertical axis shows the temperature in degrees Celsius, and the right vertical axis shows the precipitation in millimetres. One millimetre of precipitation corresponds to one litre of precipitation per square metre. As additional information, the diagrams also show the annual average temperatures and the mean annual totals of precipitation.

The selection of climate diagrams covers the most important climates on the map; the locations are also marked on the map.

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