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Can a climate classification be identified by vegetation alone?
I would say some climates can - desert, or climates that are firmly tropical. Everything else spans too wide a range of climates. to be able to firmly identify the climate.
There is tropical vegetation, temperate or subtropical vegetation, and that's really the extent to which climates can be narrowed down, and even then, to only a limited degree.
I think it points to a disconnect between the natural world and climate group classification. Any thoughts?
Yes for the most part. Miami and even Central FL looks very very different vegetation-wise. When you drive from Central FL to Miami, the very lush tropical vegetation would indicate that you're in Miami.
Yes for the most part. Miami and even Central FL looks very very different vegetation-wise. When you drive from Central FL to Miami, the very lush tropical vegetation would indicate that you're in Miami.
Lushness would indicate higher rainfall. Is the rainfall pattern fundamentally different, or much the same between the two? I suspect the lushness is due to human intervention - keeping the place green for the tourists.
Yes. I often notice this when driving to the French Mediterranean coast from London which takes about 12 hours.
Once you get about 150 miles south of Paris, vegetation starts to become increasingly evergreen shrubs. When you reach the Riviera itself you know instantly that it's a warmer climate. Even though it is at 43N, Nice is predominantly evergreen all year round
Yes. I often notice this when driving to the French Mediterranean coast from London which takes about 12 hours.
Once you get about 150 miles south of Paris, vegetation starts to become increasingly evergreen shrubs. When you reach the Riviera itself you know instantly that it's a warmer climate. Even though it is at 43N, Nice is predominantly evergreen all year round
The vegetation in my climate would resemble the Riveria much more than London, but is in the same group as London, and London would resemble NYC much more than here. I don't think vegetation alone could define the climate.
not really, here in LA there is a very tropical looking scenery around the area, but our climate is Sub Tropical Mediterreanean.
Good point. If it wasn't for the obvious cultural/landscape clues, the combination of native/introduced vegetation would give little indication of the actual climate.
not really, here in LA there is a very tropical looking scenery around the area, but our climate is Sub Tropical Mediterreanean.
If you were driving around Sydney, which is 600-900mm wetter than LA (depending on the suburb), you'd think the rainfall is much lower. LA has that wet-tropical feel to it, despite being dry and Sydney looks more 'Mediterranean', despite being uniformly wet. After all, Sydney is ruled by dry sclerophyl forests, which give off a Mediterranean landscape vibe.
So no, I guess I wouldn't base the climate classification on vegetation.
The vegetation in my climate would resemble the Riveria much more than London, but is in the same group as London, and London would resemble NYC much more than here. I don't think vegetation alone could define the climate.
London isn't that similar to the warmer parts of New Zealand, regardless of both getting an oceanic designation.
But the forested areas of the northwestern Europe resemble northern US forested areas more so than pacific northwest ones despite being more similar to the Pacific Northwest.
Lushness would indicate higher rainfall. Is the rainfall pattern fundamentally different, or much the same between the two? I suspect the lushness is due to human intervention - keeping the place green for the tourists.
Central FL doesn't have Miamis tropical vegetation. Plenty of vegetation in Miami that would die easily in Central Florida
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