Unit I: Mississippi Geography MS Studies Unit I: Mississippi Geography Coach Johnston

5 Themes of Geography Location – every place has a specific location on earth. Place – every place has physical (natural) and cultural (man made) characteristics. Human-Environment Interaction – how humans use and interact with the environment. Movement – the ways we are linked with regions, cultures, and people beyond our immediate environment Regions – Regions are defined as areas with similar characteristics

MS In The U.S.

Mississippi Geographical Regions Four Geographical Regions Delta Hills Piney Woods Gulf Coast

Mississippi Climate and Weather MS has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and winters are cool. State is humid and has ample rainfall MS climate & rainfall helped create an agricultural state Avg. Temp. in MS is 62°F Highest Ever 115°F Lowest Ever - 19°F Avg. Precipitation is 52’’ per year 60’’ on the Gulf Coast

Natural Hazards of Mississippi T-Storms are frequent and can result in flooding Lightning is a problem in MS Tornadoes – measured on the Fujita Scale (F1-F5) Hurricanes – measured by the Saffir-Simpson Scale (1-5) Earthquakes – low chance, but NW MS does sit near the New Madrid Fault

Fujita Scale Saffir-Simpson Scale

Hurricane Katrina

The Earth’s Spheres Atmosphere – The Earth’s gases. Lithosphere – all of the Earth’s land. Hydrosphere – all of the Earth’s water. Biosphere – all of the Earth’s life.

Water in Mississippi Surface Water – trapped in lakes, ponds, rivers, oceans, etc. Groundwater – below the earths surface. Aquifers – when groundwater accumulates & is brought to the surface through springs or wells.

Rivers of Mississippi MS River makes up most of MS’s western border. The river is 2,438 miles long. MS River drains the interior of the U.S. between the Rocky & Appalachian Mts. MS has 9 major river systems Yazoo, Big Black, Homochitto, & Bayou Pierre-Coles Creek Rivers drain into the MS Noxubee-Tombigbee, Pearl, Amite, Pascagoula, & Biloxi-Wolf-Jourdan rivers drain into the south.

Mississippi Reservoirs Reservoirs are used as flood control measure. They capture and hold flood waters. MS has 6 major Reservoirs Pickwick Lake 4. Enid Lake Arkabulta Lake 5. Grenada Lake Sardis Lake 6. Ross Barnett Reservoir

MS Rivers MS Rivers Drainage

Mississippi Landform Regions MS is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain All lands in MS are fairly low elevation The highest point in MS is Woodall Mountain (806 ft above sea level) MS has 10 landform regions Tombigbee Hills Loess Hills (Bluff Hills) Black Prairie Yazoo Basin (Delta) Pontotoc Ridge Jackson Prairie Flatwoods Pine Hills (Piney Woods) North Central Hills Gulf Coastal Meadows

Black Prairie Tombigbee Hills Jackson Prairie

Flatwoods North Central Hills

Pontotoc Ridge Loess Bluff

Yazoo Basin (Delta)

Pine Hills (Piney Woods) Coastal Meadow

Mississippi Soil Regions MS has historically been an agricultural state. MS has 4 general soil regions. Hills Alluvial Plain (Delta) Loess Hills Black Prairie

Mississippi Minerals MS has very few minerals Petroleum and Natural Gas in South Gravel & Sand Limestone Fire Clay

Biota Biota describes the Flora & Fauna of a region Flora Fauna MS is 55% forested Magnolias, Oak, Hickory, Pine, Gum, Cypress Fauna MS has squirrels, white-tailed deer, rabbit, raccoons, opossums, foxes Freshwater and saltwater fish & migratory birds.

MS Forest Types

Florida Panther

MS has 4 major Ecoregions Coastal Meadows Hilly Coastal Plain Loess/Bluff Hills Alluvial Plain

Ecoregions Coastal Meadows Hilly Coastal Plain Loess/Bluff Hills Mainly flat plains, barrier islands, marshes, lagoons, swampy lowlands Hilly Coastal Plain ½ of MS Land. Forest, Pasture, & Crops Loess/Bluff Hills Forest & Cropland. Portions great for Agriculture Alluvial Plain Fertile Soil. Large wetland system. Levees control flooding