Five Broad Climate Regions 1. Tropical Tropical Wet Year-round rainfall, hot Tropical rainforest Tropical Wet and Dry Rainfall, but some drier times, hot Grasslands, trees 2. Dry Arid Very hot, no rain No vegetation Semi-arid Hot, mild winter, little rain Desert scrub (shrubs and dry grasses)

Five Broad Climate Regions 3. Temperate Marine (mid-latitude) Mediterranean Rain in winter, dry summer Mediterranean vegetation Marine West Coast Rain in summer, dry winter Deciduous and coniferous forests Humid subtropical Rain in summer, mild winter Deciduous forests

Five Broad Climate Regions 4. Temperate Continental (mid-latitude) Humid Continental Moderate/Hot summer, cold winter Grasslands and forests Sub Arctic Moderate summer, cold winter grassland and coniferous forests 5. Polar (high-latitude) Tundra Cold all years Tundra Vegetation Ice Cap Cold all year Snow and ice all year

Plate

Temperature, Weather, and Climate The hot or coldness of the air Weather The day to day temperature Climate The average temperature over a period of time

Mechanical Weathering-the erosion or breakdown of rock into smaller fragments by natural physical agents with no chemicals involved

Chemical Weathering-Chemical processes that take place to cause the break down of the earth’s surface

Weathering and Erosion-the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc.

Glacier-a huge, slow-moving mass of snow and ice

River Basin- an area that is lower than surrounding land areas, may be filled with water

River-a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels

Delta- a plain at the mouth of a river, often triangular in shape, formed where sediment is deposited by flowing water

River Mouth-the point where a river enters a lake or sea

Flood Plain-a broad plain on either side of a river, formed where sediment settles during floods

Alluvial Fan-a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain

Tributary-a river or stream that flows into a larger one

Waterfall-a steep fall or flow of water in a watercourse from a height; cascade

Cataract-a large waterfall or steep rapids

Lake- you tell me!

Fjord-a long, narrow arm of the sea bordered by steep cliffs: usually formed by glacial erosion

Ocean-the vast body of salt water that covers almost three fourths of the earth's surface

Gulf-a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land

Sea-the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface; may be landlocked (ocean or large lake)

Bay-a body of water that is partly surrounded by land and that is connected to a larger body of water

Harbor-a part of a body of water along the shore deep enough for anchoring a ship and so situated with respect to coastal features, whether natural or artificial, as to provide protection from winds, waves, and currents

Lagoon- a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land

Strait-a narrow stretch of water that connects two larger bodies of water

Reef-a ridge of rocks or sand, often of coral debris, at or near the surface of the water

Island-an area of land completely surrounded by water

Archipelago-a large group or chain of islands

Atoll-A ring-like coral island and reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon

Peninsula-an area of land almost completely surrounded by water but connected to the mainland

Isthmus-a narrow strip of land that connects two larger areas of land

Mountain-a landform that rises steeply at least 2,000 ft Mountain-a landform that rises steeply at least 2,000 ft. above surrounding land

Volcano-an opening in the Earth’s surface through which molten rock, ashes, and gases escape from the interior

Valley-a low stretch of land between mountains or hills; land that is drained by a river

Terracing-a raised level piece of land with a vertical or sloping front; one of a series of levels rising one above another

Canyon-a deep narrow valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing through it

Butte-an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the surrounding land; smaller than a mesa

Mesa-a high, flat topped landform with cliff-like sides, larger than a butte

Plateau-a large, flat area of land that rises above the surrounding land; at least one side has a steep slope

Plain-a large area of flat or gently rolling land

Steppe-the grassland of fertile soil suitable for farming in Russia

Savanna-a plain characterized by coarse grasses and scattered tree growth, esp. on the margins of the tropics where the rainfall is seasonal, as in eastern Africa

Semi-arid-a dry climate that receives very little rain and supports desert scrub vegetation

Desert Scrub-vegetation found in semi-arid climate regions

Chaparral-A vegetative region characterized by hot dry summers and cool moist winters and dominated by a dense growth of mostly small-leaved evergreen shrubs, as that found in the foothills of California.

Desert-a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all

Dune-a sand hill or sand ridge formed by the wind, usually in desert regions or near lakes and oceans

Oasis- a small fertile or green area in a desert region, usually having a spring or well

Polar Climate-Climate region that is cold all year round Polar Climate-Climate region that is cold all year round. Includes both the tundra and polar ice cap climates.

Tundra-a cold, dry region covered with snow for more than half the year

Marine West Coast- a temperate marine climate region which receives plenty of rain in the summer and has mild winters. Supports a variety of forests.

Deciduous Forest-shedding the leaves annually, as certain trees and shrubs

Coniferous Forest-   Any of various mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing trees or shrubs such as pines, spruces, and firs

The End