Type D Climates Flashcards

Type D Climates Overview

• Type D climate, also known as humid microthermal or humid continental, features severe winters and is classified as a humid mid-latitude climate.

Geographic Distribution

• D climates are exclusively found in the northern hemisphere, with no occurrence in the southern hemisphere.

Categories of D Climates

• Dfs and Dfb signify the Humid Continental climate.
• Dwa and Dwb are variations of Humid Continental only present in Asia.
• Dfc and Dfd represent Subarctic climates.
• Dwc and Dwd denote Subarctic climates found only in Asia.

Humid Continental Climate Locations

• Dfa, Dfb, Dwa, and Dwb climates are located from the Midwest United States to the east coast, extending into southern Canada from the Plains to the east coast.

Humid Continental Climate Characteristics

• Characterized by large annual temperature variations influenced mostly by continental polar (cP) air.
• Experience low to moderate precipitation totals combined with low potential evapotranspiration (PET).
• Dfb climate has no distinct dry season, while Dwa and Dwb climates have a marked winter dry season.

Mechanisms Influencing Humid Continental Climate

• Positioned in far northern latitudes leading to lower solar radiation and negligible heat energy.
• Strong continentality significantly affects climate, being distant from oceans.

Vegetation in Humid Continental Climate

• Vegetation ranges from broadleaf deciduous trees in southern areas to mixed deciduous and needleleaf evergreens in central regions, and predominantly needleleaf evergreens in northern zones.

Subarctic Climate Locations

• Dfc, Dfd, Dwc, and Dwd climates span west Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland, defining the Subarctic region.

Subarctic Climate Characteristics

• Features long, harsh winters and the most significant annual temperature ranges among climates.
• Dwc and Dwd varieties showcase a distinct winter dry season.

Example of Subarctic Temperature Range

• Yakutsk, Russia exhibits a temperature range of 63 degrees Celsius (145 degrees Fahrenheit), illustrating the extreme variability typical of Subarctic climates.

Mechanisms Influencing Subarctic Climate

• Characterized by high latitudes leading to minimal solar radiation.
• Strong continentality also plays a critical role in subarctic climate dynamics.

Vegetation in Subarctic Climate

• Dominated by needleleaf evergreens and Taiga forests, including a mix of spruce, fir, birch, and larch trees.