Climate and Vegetation How do climate and vegetation differ across the United States?

Factors Affecting Climate Distance from the equator Distance from the ocean Elevation-height of land in relation to sea level For every 1,000 feet above sea level, the temperature drops 3 degrees

Earth and Sun Earth’s orbit around the sun causes the seasons to change The tilt of the Earth causes different places to get different amounts of heat and sunlight at different times of the year

Vegetation Natural Vegetation- plant life that grows naturally Varies depending on soil, temperature and precipitation

Vegetation Regions Forests-stretch across large areas in the eastern and western U.S. Grassland- covers much of the middle of the country, including the Central and Great Plains Deserts-only plants that can grow in an arid, or dry, climate grow Tundra-a cold, dry region where trees cannot grow, snow covered more than half of the year