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Continentality can be incorporated into traditional climatic classifications on a basis that is comprehensive, sensitive, consistent in its criteria, and orthogonal with respect to other classificatory criteria. Two oceanic (ultraoceanic and oceanic) and three continental (subcontinental, continental, and ultracontinental) subdivisions provide effective, yet efficient, resolution of the continentality spectrum. The major groups or extratropical climates, the global distributions of sea ice and permafrost, and the distribution of major vegetation types in Alaska are related to climate in traditional terms and in terms of continentality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the spatial and seasonal distributions of littoral algae communities at Amchitka Island, Alaska. The study draws concepts and notions coming from other research on various groups of benthic marine algae in the region. The article implies that there are environmental factors affecting the distributions of littoral algae vegetation which are terrestrial climate, sea temperatures, and wave action. The study investigates the connection of the three factors in the marine algal communities of the island.

The article reports on the physical climatology of Amchitka Island, Alaska. It states that the extreme variability of surface-wind directions at Amchitka is a result of a high incidence of migratory pressure systems. It also mentions that fog is dominant during the summer months because the water warms more slowly than the air that flows over it. It also forwards that frequent migratory storms and the marine influence of the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Bering Sea to the north are the main factors influencing the weather and climate of this island.