Climatology: General And Regional

Climatology: General And Regional





Text extracted from opening pages of book: CLIMATOLOGY General and Regional by THOMAS A. BLAIR SENIOR METEOROLOGIST, U. 8. WEATHER BUREAU ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF METEOROLOGY UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA New York PRENTICE-HALL, INC. COPYRIGHT, 1942, BY PRENTICE-HALL, INC. 70 Fifth Avenue, Now York ALL, RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRO DUCED IN ANY FORM, BY MIMEOGRAPH OR ANY OTHER MEANS, WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHERS. Fii st Printing . October, 1942 Socond Printing July, 1943 Third Printing March, 1949 Fourth Printing ... . October, 1951 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Preface This book contains a short and simple restatement of the principles of climatology and a concise summary of the main features of th^. major climatic regions of the world. It is intended as an introduction to the study of climate for those who will go on to more detailed studies, and as a survey course for those whose primary interests are elsewhere. The treatment is brief and of an introductory character throughout. Some previous knowl edge of meteorology will be found helpful, but is by no means essential. Part I deals with the general principles of climatology. In it are discussed the nature and elements of climate and the factors that give rise to climatic differences and that determine the distribution of climatic types. Attention is also given to the influences exerted by climate on soils and land forms, on plants, and on man and his activities. A simplified classification of climate is developed, making use of fourteen major types of climate and six subtypes. The basis of division into types is primarily that of temperature differences, and secondarily that of precipitation differences. In Part II the continents are taken up separately, and the characteristics of the major types of climate as they are found on the several continents are stated briefly. The practical purpose of acquainting the reader with the conditions of life and with agri cultural pursuits in the various parts of the world is maintained. The statistical data that are the necessary basis for any dis cussion of climate are derived originally chiefly from official sources, but are here, in many cases, taken from various compila tions and books, most of which are included in the bibliography. My thanks are due to Dean Nels A. Bengtsori for his help in many ways, including a critical reading of the manuscript; to the Chief of the United States Weather Bureau for permission to publish this book; and to the technical staff of the Weather Bureau for criticisms and suggestions. Acknowledgment is made also to Mr. George E. Fowler for his care and skill in preparing the draw ings, and to my wife for help and encouragement. T. A. BLAUU Contents PAGK PREFACE v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xi PART I GENERAL CLIMATOLOGY CHAPTER I. WEATHER AND CLIMATE 3 [ I. TEMPERATURE AS A CLIMATIC ELEMENT 7 Insolation 7 Effects of Insolation 11 The Heating and Cooling of the Air 12 Temperature Data 14 III. PRESSURE, WIND, AND MOISTURE AS CLIMATIC ELEMENTS 23 Pressure and Wind as Climatic Elements 23 Moisture as a Climatic Element 25 Summary 39 IV. CLIMATIC CONTROLS 41 The General Distribution of Temperature and Precipita tion 41 Latitude as a Climatic Control 46 Continents and Oceans as Climatic Controls 47 Pressure Belts and Winds as Climatic Controls. ... 55 V. CLIMATIC CONTROLS CONTINUED 71 Ocean Currents as Climatic Controls 71 Altitude as a Climatic Control 76 Topography as a Climatic Control 78 Temperature Controls 82 Precipitation Controls 86 Summary 88 VI. CLIMATIC VARIABILITY 90 Geological Changes of Climate 90 Secular Trends 91 vii viii CONTENTS CHAPTER PAOK ^ VI. CLIMATIC VARIABILITY ( Continued) Weather Cycles 92 Suggested Causes of Climatic Variability 94 Nature of Climate 99 VII. CLIMATIC INFLUENCES 102 Climate and Soils 103 Climate and Land Forms 104 Climate and Natural Vegetation 105 Climate and Crops 105 Climate and Land Use 107 Climate and Business 108 Climate a









List Price: $ 32.95



Price: $ 32.95









More Regional Products