18. Seasons and Climate Classification

The Atmosphere, the Ocean and Environmental Change (GG 140)

The seasonal cycle on Earth causes shifts in the bands of precipitation in the northern and southern hemispheres. The polar front shifts between high and mid-latitudes which causes a latitudinal shift in the occurrence of frontal cyclones. The Intertropical Convergence Zone also shifts across the equator bringing bands of precipitation to different tropical regions throughout the year. Regional climates on Earth have been classified based on temperature and precipitation values. Areas affected by seasonal shifts in the ITCZ and polar front are included in this classification scheme. Several examples of seasonality are discussed as well as seasonal weather and climate events.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Sunlight Seasonality in the Arctic Circle
05:03 - Chapter 2. Seasonal Zone Shifts
16:57 - Chapter 3. Precipitation Seasonality
24:49 - Chapter 4. Climate Classification
33:44 - Chapter 5. Examples of Seasonality
44:06 - Chapter 6. Seasonally Controlled Events

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://oyc.yale.edu

This course was recorded in Fall 2011.