A Brief Summary of Ancient Greek Climate.
Greece has a Csa climate.
The C means a humid temperature climate, s means dry summers, and a means
hot summer. This can also be called a Mediterranean climate. The name Mediterranean
is derived from the fact that this climate zone is found mostly by the
Mediterranean sea, but it can also be found in other areas such as Southern
California. A Mediterranean climate consists of mild constant temperatures
along with rain in the winter and a dry hot summer. The mild rainy winters
are caused by westerly weather influences. As the air moves over the ocean
it builds up moisture and pressure. This is then deposited when it hits
land. This often happens in waves so there will be a couple of rainy days
and then maybe one clear sunny mild day. The dry hot summers are caused
by a change in oceanic pressure systems.
Early Greeks lived on the
outskirts of the land, always wanting to be as close to water as possible
in order to make transportation and fishing easier. Because of this they
may have had a more constant climate that they would have inland. This
is due to the cooling properties of water and land. Land (as with almost
any solid surface) cools faster than a liquid such as water. So around
the water you receive a very softened climate. Water heats up slower and
cools slower. A solid object on the other hand heats quicker and cools
quicker.
Mountain regions in Greece
as in any place have different climates from the places which surround
them. As altitude increases it is like going up in latitude. It generally
tends to get cooler. This cool air causes the air forced up over the mountain
to cool also, causing it to lose its ability to hold its water. This causes
the water to either fall out in the form of rain or (if cool enough) snow.
This snow is important because it supplies the streams and rivers.
Study Questions
1. Why is the climate different
around bodies of water?
2. How is going up in altitude
like going up in latitude?
3. Why is it called Mediterranean
climate?
Field Exercise
If you have been to the
beach recently describe how its climate is different than inland.
Chad Hamilton