Grade 12 results are out. Where to check yours

Unit notes and practice questions

Grade 11 Geography unit 2: Climate Classification and Regions of the World

Everything here is for unit 2 of the Grade 11 Geography textbook: what the chapter covers, the short notes, practice questions with their answers, and the lesson video where one exists.

Get it on Google Play
2
Cards
10
Practice questions on unit 2
27–57
The textbook pages for unit 2

Start here

The Temari lesson on unit 2

A short video lesson on this chapter, made by Temari. It loads only when you press play.

How climates are classified · 4 min · 2 past exam questions worked through

Parts of the lesson

Tap a part to play the lesson from there.

What unit 2 covers

  1. 1.Criteria for climate classification
  2. 2.Köppen's climate classification
  3. 3.World climatic regions
  4. 4.Factors influencing the world climatic regions
  5. 5.Local/indigenous climate classification of Ethiopia

Short notes for unit 2

The cards filed under this chapter on the Grade 11 Geography page. Open one at a time.

Classification SystemBasis of ClassificationExamples
GeneticAtmospheric forcing processes, air masses, and circulationAir mass classification
EmpiricalObserved statistical data of temperature and precipitationKöppen, Trewartha

When you use it

Use this distinction when evaluating whether a climate system is classified by causative atmospheric processes or observed statistical data.

Watch out

Genetic systems classify by the causes of climate, such as air masses, while empirical systems classify by observed effects like temperature and precipitation.

Drafted from Grade 11 Geography, pages 28-58, then checked twice before it went up

SymbolClimate TypeDefining Temperature and Moisture Criteria
ATropicalAll months average temperature above 18 °C
BDryEvapotranspiration exceeds precipitation
CMesothermal (Mid-latitude mild)Coldest month average between -3 °C and 18 °C
DMicrothermal (Mid-latitude cold)Warmest month above 10 °C, coldest below -3 °C
EPolarWarmest month average below 10 °C
HHighlandVaried local conditions controlled by altitude

When you use it

Use this scheme to identify major global climate types from temperature and precipitation thresholds.

Watch out

Type B is determined by precipitation deficiency, whereas types A, C, D, and E are defined strictly by temperature boundaries.

Drafted from Grade 11 Geography, pages 28-58, then checked twice before it went up

Practice questions on unit 2

10 multiple-choice questions written against this chapter, each with its answer and the reason. Try one before you open the answer.

Question 1

According to the ancient Greeks, which zone was thought to offer the best climate and habitat?

  1. A.Frigid Zone
  2. B.Temperate Zone
  3. C.Torrid Zone
  4. D.Dry Zone
Show the answer and why

Answer: B Temperate Zone

Why

The chapter says the Temperate Zone lies between the Torrid and Frigid Zones and is thought to offer the best climate and habitat. The Frigid Zone has extremely frigid temperatures, and the Torrid Zone is the warmer tropical area.

Question 2

In Köppen's system, what must the average temperature of all months be for a climate to be Tropical (A)?

  1. A.Above 10°C
  2. B.Above 18°C
  3. C.Below 18°C
  4. D.Above 30°C
Show the answer and why

Answer: B Above 18°C

Why

The textbook states that for the Tropical climate (A), all months have an average temperature above 18°C (64°F). This is why there is no real winter season in this climate.

Question 3

Which of these is NOT one of the five major Köppen climate types?

  1. A.Tropical (A)
  2. B.Dry (B)
  3. C.Polar (E)
  4. D.Highland (H)
Show the answer and why

Answer: D Highland (H)

Why

The five major terrestrial types are A, B, C, D and E. The highland group (H) was added later to account for big climate changes in mountainous areas over short distances, so it is not one of the five primary types.

Question 4

Which of Ethiopia's traditional local climate zones is the hot lowland found below 500 metres above sea level?

  1. A.Bereha
  2. B.Kolla
  3. C.Woina-Dega
  4. D.Dega
Show the answer and why

Answer: A Bereha

Why

The chapter says the hot lowlands are called Bereha. They are found below 500 metres above sea level, have an average annual rainfall of fewer than 16 inches, and have a temperature of more than 30°C.

Question 5

A farmer in Ethiopia has a field at 1,800 metres above sea level. The farmer grows teff. Using the traditional local classification, which zone is the field in?

  1. A.Kolla
  2. B.Woina-Dega
  3. C.Dega
  4. D.Wurch
Show the answer and why

Answer: B Woina-Dega

Why

Woina-Dega covers the temperate highlands between 1500 and 2300 metres above sea level. 1,800 metres is inside this range. Teff is one of the crops the chapter lists for this zone.

Question 6

What is the normal temperature decrease with height in the lower atmosphere (troposphere)?

  1. A.6.4°C per kilometre
  2. B.2.5°C per kilometre
  3. C.10°C per kilometre
  4. D.6.4°C per 100 metres
Show the answer and why

Answer: A 6.4°C per kilometre

Why

The chapter states that in the lower atmosphere (troposphere), the normal temperature decrease with height is 6.4°C per kilometre. Remember this when you calculate temperatures on mountains.

Question 7

Which climate type has monthly temperature differences of fewer than 3°C and rain falling year-round?

  1. A.Af (Tropical wet or equatorial rainforest)
  2. B.Am (Tropical monsoon)
  3. C.Aw (Tropical wet and dry or savanna)
  4. D.Cfa (Humid subtropical)
Show the answer and why

Answer: A Af (Tropical wet or equatorial rainforest)

Why

The textbook says Af refers to a tropical environment with year-round precipitation, where monthly temperature differences are fewer than 3°C. Am and Aw have a dry season, and Cfa is a mid-latitude climate.

Question 8

Which of these factors is NOT considered in Köppen's climatic classification system?

  1. A.Yearly average temperature
  2. B.Monthly precipitation
  3. C.Wind
  4. D.Seasonality of precipitation
Show the answer and why

Answer: C Wind

Why

The chapter says that winds, temperature extremes, precipitation intensity, sunshine quantity, cloud cover and net radiation are not considered in Köppen's system. Yearly and monthly temperature and precipitation, and their seasonality, are considered.

Question 9

A place has an annual precipitation of 50 inches. The driest month receives 1.0 inch. Using the formula a = 3.94 - r/25, where r is annual precipitation, which climate is this?

  1. A.Am
  2. B.Aw
  3. C.Af
  4. D.Cw
Show the answer and why

Answer: B Aw

Why

Step 1: a = 3.94 - 50/25 = 3.94 - 2 = 1.94 inches. Step 2: The driest month receives 1.0 inch, which is less than 1.94 inches. The chapter says that if the driest month is less than the value of a, the climate is Aw.

Question 10

A mid-latitude climate has dry winters. Its wettest summer month receives 10 times more precipitation than its driest winter month. Which climate type is this?

  1. A.Cs
  2. B.Cf
  3. C.Cw
  4. D.Df
Show the answer and why

Answer: C Cw

Why

The textbook describes Cw as a climate with dry winters, which has 10 times more precipitation in the wettest month of summer than in the driest month of winter. It is the dominant climate type in China.

The app holds 12 questions on this unit, marked as you go. These are the first 10.

The textbook pages for unit 2

Unit 2 runs from page 27 to page 57 of the Ministry of Education edition.

Ministry of Education edition, English, 254 pages

Download the PDF

All Grade 11 Geography short notes

Practise this unit in the app

Temari turns this chapter into timed practice and marks it as you go, with an AI tutor to explain anything that did not land.

Start free

Temari.et is also an Android app, free on Google Play.

Get it on Google PlayAbout the Temari app
Sign inCreate your account