Part 5. Climate

The United States of America occupying a large territory, it is natural that a great diversity of climatic conditions can be observed in different parts of the country. Besides, being crossed by mountain rangers from north to south, the country is unprotected from blasts of cold air from the north and warm air from the south. This is the cause of great fluctuations of temperature.

The north part of the Pacific coast enjoys a moderate climate of temperate zones with a cool summer and a rather warm (for these latitudes) winter without a permanent snow cover and an abundant rainfall on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains (3000-6000 mm a year).

The southern part of the Pacific coast (California) has a Mediterranean climate: a hot, cloudless and dry summer and a cool and rainy winter with the mean temperatures of 20-25º C in summer and 5-10º in winter. The rainfall is rather small (400-600 mm a year).

The climate on the Atlantic coast is continental-marine with cool summers and rather warm winters with a permanent snow cover in mountainous regions. Further to the south the climate gets warmer, with warmer winters and hotter summers, gradually passing into the monsoon subtropical climate in the extreme south and Florida. The temperatures here are comparable to those on the Pacific coast of California, but the rainfall is heavier and occurs mostly in summer.

The plains of the Appalachian Mountains enjoy a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters with a permanent snow cover.

The plateaus and tablelands of the Cordilleras have an extreme continental climate with very cold winters and very hot summers. The highest temperature is observed in the Death Valley (sometimes up to 56º C).

QUESTIONS.

1) How does the relief of the United States tell on the climatic conditions? What causes great fluctuations of temperature?

2) Characterise the climate of the northern part of the Pacific coast.

3) The southern, Californian, part of the Pacific coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate, doesn’t it? What is characteristic of this climate?

4) Describe the climate of the Atlantic coast.

5) Which part of the country enjoys a monsoon subtropical climate?

6) Compare the climates in Florida and on the Pacific coast of California. What is in common? What is different?

7) What parts of the United States have a continental climate? Why do they have a continental climate? What is characteristic of this climate?