Global Climate - Moist Continental

General Characteristics - warm to cool summers and cold winters. Winters are severe with snow storms, blustery winds, bitter cold - climate is controlled by large continent

• controlled by large land masses - found only in northern hemisphere
• found between about 40°-70° latitude
• warm-cool summers, cold winters
• average temperature of coldest month must dip below -3°C (27°F)) - Koppen found that this temperature value marks the southern extent of persistent snow cover during the winter

Extent - north of moist subtropical mid-latitude climates

Major types: -

• humid continental with hot (Dfa) summers or cool summers (Dfb)
  • observed between 40°-60° latitude
  • evenly distributed precip during the year - 20-40 inches per year
  • Dfa - hot, humid summers - summertime temps in the 90's - warm, humid evenings
  • Dfa - growing season is about 5-6 months
  • example for Des Moines, IA
  • Dfb - cooler, located north of Dfa region
  • growing season is about 3-5 months
  • slightly larger temperature range than Dfa
  • example for Winnipeg, Canada

Climate Map - West	Climate Map - East

Major types, cont: -

• sub polar (Dfc)
  • much of Canada, Alaska, Norway, Siberia
  • source regions of cP, cA air masses
  • severe winters, short, cool summers
  • 1-3 months with mean temperature exceeding 10°C (50°F)
  • small amounts of precip, though evaporation rate is also low
  • hence, there is adequate moisture to support the boreal forests of conifers and birches
  • example for Fairbanks, Alaska