(5) Dry Subtropical Climate
(Köppen BWh, BWk, BSh, BSk)
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Notice that there is more of this in
the Eastern Hemisphere
- Watch for the "5a" on the map = Type
5a, where "a" means Arid
- A strip north of the Sahara Desert, east to the Arabian
Peninsula
- South Africa
- South Australia
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Dry Subtropical
Climate: Eastern Hemisphere |
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| Look for type "5a"
on the map. The "a"
means arid. |
anchor
point
Western Hemisphere has much less of
this climate type
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Southern South America, east of Andes
Mountains
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More importance to us, though, because includes U.S.
Southwest and N. Mexico
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Yuma, Arizona, 33° N is a U.S.
example
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Dry Subtropical
Climate: Western Hemisphere |
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Notice "5a" in Arizona and in
Mexico. This is Köppen BWk, a
cold desert, in the yellow/
gold coloring, in the Arizona case. |
anchor
point 2
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Dry Subtropical
Climate:
Yuma, Arizona |
 |
| This is a subtropical desert, a cool
desert of Köppen BWk type. |
Dry subtropical climate,
characteristics, in
general
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Cool or cold in low-sun season; very hot under high-sun
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Hence, distinct annual temperature cycle
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Very meager precipitation all year
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Dominated by hot, dry cT, continental tropical air
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What little rain from summer monsoon, or winter
frontal
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These broad-scale vegetation settings ensue:
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Hot and cool subtropical desserts
(arid)
and steppes
(steppes are semi-arid, say like southern
Idaho)
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Plants and animals which survive here are adapted to drought
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Example =
Arizona Desert landscape
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Dry Subtropical
Landscape: Arizona Desert |
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This is Köppen BWk,
a cold/cool desert. Some deserts have considerably more vegetation than
you might first think. These are Xerophytes,
adapted to meager moisture via thick skins that reduce loss of water via
vapor and via tissues that can store moisture. Some Xerophytes
have deep roots to tap underground water sources.
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