This chapter first examines the factors that influence temperatures across the globe. Temperature and precipitation are important variables when examining climate classification. Thus, factors that influence temperature also influence climate. Since weather during the day affects the high and low temperatures for that day, we will also examine how weather affects these temperatures.

The remainder of this textbook explores climate and its variability.  As climate topics are examined, the first topic to understand is the variables defining one climate from another and the classification of different climates. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system is widely used across the globe and is described in this chapter. Climate by its nature requires a lot of data and analyses. Therefore, this chapter has a lot of graphs and maps.

Chapter Objectives:

1. List the geographic factors that influence temperatures.

2. Describe the effects of weather on high and low temperatures.

3. Identify the main climate groups in the Köppen-Geiger classification system.

4. Identify characteristics associated with a climate group and its subgroups