Climate Terms & Definitions

Front

A climate, which has cool summers, is found in much of Europe. Winters can be mild to very cold, and summers may be warm to hot. The growing season is six months or more.

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humid continental

Front

A climate with long, cold winters and short, warm summers, found in far northern Europe and Asia. Average temperature in warmest months: 40° F, coldest months: -20° F.

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tundra

Front

A mild climate found inland. The summers are very warm, but the winters are mild. Rainfall is 10 to 20 inches per year. The closer this climate comes to desert regions, the less the rainfall amounts.

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steppe or semiarid

Front

A climate found on the western coasts of continents between 40° and 60° latitude. Many days are cloudy, with rain and fog. Rainfall can be as much as 50 to 60 inches per year.

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west coast marine

Front

A climate that has very hot summers and mild and warm winters. Rainfall is less than 10 inches per year. Vegetation is very sparse.

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desert

Front

A climate where tall trees form a canopy over the ground below. The average monthly temperature is in the high 70s to low 80s. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 90s and nighttime temperatures in the 70s. Most afternoons there are heavy downpours of rain.

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tropical rain forest

Front

A climate where the average summer temperature is often 80°F or more, and the winters are cool and moist with an average temperature of 50°F. The growing season is 180 to 220 days. It is found on the southeast coast of most continents.

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humid subtropical

Front

A climate where for each 1,000 feet of elevation, the temperature becomes 3.3 degrees cooler.

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highland

Front

A climate that has a definite wet and dry season. The wet season comes during the summer; the dry season comes during the winter. It is located so close to the equator that temperatures remain warm throughout the year.

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tropical savana

Front

A very mild climate found along the west coast of continents. It is located between 30° and 40° latitude.

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Mediterranean