Theory question 204
ClimateUse the climatic data below to answer the questions that follow.
Month: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Temp (°C): -19, -17, -8, 2, 10, 17, 18, 18, 11, 4, -5, -13
Precipitation (mm): 22, 17, 29, 35, 50, 78, 78, 55, 55, 35, 27, 22
(a) Calcuate the (i) mean annual temperature (ii) annual range of temperature (iii) total annual temperature (b) Briefly describe the distribution of the precipitation for the station (c) Identify the type of natural vegetation that could be associated with the climate data given above. Give two reasons for your answer
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(a)(i) Sum of temperatures = 18; 18 ÷ 12 = 1.5°C.
(ii) 18 − (−19) = 37°C.
(iii) (total annual precipitation) 22+17+29+35+50+78+78+55+55+35+27+22 = 503 mm.
(b) Precipitation in every month but low in total (about 500 mm); summer maximum, peak June-July (78 mm); winter minimum, lowest in February (17 mm); much of the winter fall would be snow.
(c) Temperate continental grassland (steppe/prairie), or coniferous forest at the wetter margin. Reasons: low precipitation (about 500 mm) with summer maximum suits grass; very cold winters and only about five months warm enough for growth; large annual range shows a continental interior.
Watch the negative numbers when adding.