Climate Zones and Vegetation Chapter 2 Section 3

5 Types of Climate Zones Tropical Mid Latitude High Latitude Dry Highland

Tropical Climates

The tropics

Tropical Climates Tropical Climates range from ______ to ______? (low latitude) If you like _________ weather you would love to live in a tropical climate. There are two types of tropical climates Tropical Rain Forest Climate Tropical Savanna Climate

Tropical Rain Forest Climate Year round rainfall – produce lush vegetation which is home to millions of plants and animals. The trees form a canopy over the land allowing very little sunlight to actually reach the forest floor. (Mahogany, teak, ebony) The Amazon Basin in ________ ______________ is the largest rain forest region.

Canopy Trees Ebony Mahogany Teak

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Savanna Climate Savannas – broad grasslands with few trees Rainfall occurs only a few months out of a year. Wet Season – Few months out of the year when it does rain on the tropical savanna. The rest of the year is hot and dry

Savannas

What’s the Difference Rainforest climates – remain wet most of the year. Have a lot of vegetation Savanna Climates – have a distinct wet and dry season. Have minimal vegetation with very few trees.

Tropical Climate Zones Location Tropical Rain Forest: South America Africa Asia Tropical Savanna: South America Africa Asia

Tropical Climates Tropical Climates especially the rain forests are home to more than half of our world’s plant and animal species. Rain forests in the tropical climates are very important to our water cycle because they? ____________________________________________________________________

Various other plants and animals species of Tropical Climates toucan Sloth Venus Fly Trap Poison Arrow Frog Bromeliads

Where are the tropical climate zones found? Note-Taking Check Where are the tropical climate zones found?

Mid – Latitude Climates

Mid-Latitude Climates Also known as a moderate climate Found in the “middle” between ___________degrees N or S latitude, and ___________ degrees N or S Latitude from the equator The majority of the world’s people live within this climate region.

Mid-Latitude Climate This region has the most climate zones and regions within it than any other. Why? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Breakdown of the Mid-latitude Climate Zone 1. Marine West Coast Climate 2. Mediterranean Climate 3. Humid Continental Climate 4. Humid Subtropical Climate

Marine West Coast Climate Found on: The western coast of the United States Europe – England Australia – South East What it is: An area that receives winds from the ocean

Marine West Coast Climate What is it like: Winters: rainy and mild Summers: Cool You would probably see a lot of _____________ which supports the growth of deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves in the fall) or Coniferous forests (cones and needles)

Marine West Coast Climate Deciduous Coniferous

Marine West Coast Climate

Mediterranean Climate Another mid-latitude climate zone Has mild, rainy winters (much like the marine west coast climate) It has hot, dry summers Vegetation include: Chaparral Shrubs Short trees

Vegetation: Mediterranean Climate chaparral

Humid Continental Climate Another Mid-Latitude Climate If you live in the inland areas of North America, Europe, or Asia this is the type of climate you may have. Winters can be __________, ___________, ________________(think of Chicago) Summers are normally _____________ and very _____________.

Humid Continental Climate: Vegetation You will probably find deciduous trees ( just like where?) Also vast grasslands may flourish Where in the United States might you find this type of area?

Humid Continental Climate

Humid Subtropical Climate Yet another type of mid-latitude climate These regions are close to the _________________ Rain falls throughout the year, but the heaviest rain will come during this season? ___________________ The winters here are generally mild and short

Humid Subtropical Climate: Vegetation Oaks Magnolias Palms

Humid Subtropical Climate

High Latitude Climates

High Latitude Climate These climates usually are mainly in the high latitudes of each hemisphere ( the circles) ranging from ______ degrees to __________ degrees Generally these climates are very cold but some are more severe than others. There are three types of high latitude climates Subarctic Tundra Ice cap

Subarctic Climate This is the section closest to the mid latitude zones ( closest to 60 degrees) There are very few people who live here The climate is very cold and bitter in the winter The summer can see temperatures rising above freezing

Subarctic vegetation Taiga – Huge evergreen forests

Taiga

Tundra Closer to the Poles than the subarctic Tundra – cold and dry weather The Tundra is so cold that parts of the soil stay frozen permanently – Permafrost Only the few top layers of the soil thaw during the summer months. This thawed soil turns marshy in the summer giving the plants the nutrients they need to live.

Tundra Vegetation There are no trees that grow in the tundra because it is too cold for their roots to set up in the ground There are however sturdy grasses and low bushes that grow

Tundra

Ice Cap Climate Antarctica and Greenland Monthly temperatures average in Antarctica is -128 degrees No vegetation grows here however some mosses and fungi can grow.

Ice Cap Climate

Ice Cap

Ice Cap

What are the three types of high latitude climates? Note-taking Check What are the three types of high latitude climates?

Dry Climates

Dry Climates Dry or partially dry areas that receive little or no rain Temperatures can be really hot during the day and extremely cold in the night. Dry climates can be found at any latitude. There are two types of dry climates Desert Climate Steppe Climate

Desert Climate Receive less than 10 inches of rainfall per year Only scattered plants such as shrubs and ____________ can grow here. ____________ can collect any rain that falls because their roots are close to the surface. If irrigation is available some types of crops can also be grown.

Desert Vegetation

Desert

Steppe Climate Surrounding a desert Partly dry grasslands and prairies Means “treeless plain” Rain averages 10-20 inches per year Vegetation include bushes and short grasses An Example in the U.S. is ________________________

Where are steppe climate zones often located? Note-taking Check Where are steppe climate zones often located?

Highland Climate

Highland Climate Cool or cold temperatures year round. TIMBERLINE – the elevation when above it trees can grow only small shrubs and bushes.

Timberline

Note-taking Check What is the timberline?