RAFscience: Climate Differences

Foothills on three sides surround Springfield, Missouri, similar to Fairbanks. But, mainly it is as flat as a pancake. Springfield, oppose to Fairbanks has a variety of seasons; winter, spring, fall, summer.

Photos top to bottom:
tp://www.nixalawnservice.com/winter/our-top-5-winter-activities/

http://www.springfieldmo.org/places-to-stay/cat/9/menu/125/client/69432

http://hoffsarah.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

http://www.springfieldmo.org/discover

The winters are cool to cold and often dry. However, having the west side of the city exposed, the Northwest winds triumph by bringing with snow accumulation yielding much precipitation during this season. The season of spring is another active time for Springfield. During the spring, they tend to get tons of rain; this is also the time when the count for Tornados begins.[1]

The average temperature is 56F with the warmest average temperature being 90F in the summer months of July and August. While, the month of January holds to be the coldest at an average of 23F. Springfield, throughout the year, will find they get at least 106 days of some type of precipitation. Of course, this can come in the form of messy sleet, tears of rain, Frosty’s makings, or an insurance companies love—hail.[2]

http://www.climatetemp.info/usa/springfield-missouri.html

Springfield being in the center of Ozark Plateau combats wind funnels. The wind tunnels coming out from the southeast and are forced up against the winds in the North between the ridges. These winds can be predicted because they are a natural phenomenon.[3]

http://www.wdtb.noaa.gov/courses/winterawoc/microclimates/SGF/IC%2043e_SGF_funneling-Boxell_20110405.pdf

While Fairbanks located in the high-latitude zone, the Köppen-Geiger climate classification locates Springfield in the mid-latitude climates. This latitude is known as humid with no dry seasons, and hot summers.[4]

http://printable-maps.blogspot.com/2008/09/climate-maps-united-states-and-canada.html

[1] "Climate of Missouri." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_climate>.

[2] "Springfield, Missouri Climate Information - ClimateTemp.info, Making Sense of Average Monthly Temperature & Weather Data with Detailed Climate Graphs That Portray Average Rainfall & Sunshine Hours." World Weather and Climate Graphs, Average Climate Charts, Guide to Precipitation, Temperatures, Best, Friendly, Holiday Climate. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://www.climatetemp.info/usa/springfield-missouri.html>.

[3]http://www.wdtb.noaa.gov/courses/winterawoc/microclimates/SGF/IC%2043e_SGF_funneling-Boxell_20110405.pdf

[4]http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm