Unit 1: The World Physical Geography

Weather Condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time Climate-weather conditions a particular location over a long period of time. Causes: water vapor, cloud cover, landforms, elevation, air movement

Weather Extremes Hurricanes/typhoons Tornadoes Blizzards Droughts Floods

Factors Affecting Climate Wind currents Ocean Currents Zones of Latitude Elevation Topography Global Warming

World Climate Regions 5 large regions: tropical, dry, mid-latitude, high latitude, highland. Sub-regions exist too…

Sub-Regions Tropical Wet Always hot Sunny in the morning but rain daily Lots of rainfall: 80 inches a year Central and South America Africa, Southwest Asia

Sub-Regions Tropical Wet and Dry Rainy season in summer Warmer temps Dry season in winter Cooler temps Rainfall is less than in tropical wet Africa, South and Central America, parts of Asia

Sub-Regions Semiarid Less than 20 inches of rain a year Summers are hot Winters are mild to cold Interior of continents, usually near deserts

Sub-Regions Desert Hot or cold Less than 10 inches of rain Hot deserts: typically in southern hemisphere Cold deserts: typically in northern hemisphere

Sub-Regions Mediterranean Tundra Dry and hot summers Cold and rainy winters Tundra Near Arctic Ocean Permafrost Less than 15 inches of rain Summer lasts only for a few weeks

Sub-Regions Other sub-regions: Marine West Coast Humid Subtropical Humid Continental Subarctic Highlands

Soil and Vegetation Regions Ecosystem: interdependent community of plants and animals Regional ecosystem: biome Forest, grassland, desert, tundra

Soil and Vegetation Regions Forestlands Deciduous trees: drop leaves in the fall Coniferous trees: cones, don’t drop leaves/needles Rain forest

Soil and Vegetation Regions Grasslands Savanna Steppe/prairie

Soil and Vegetation Regions Desert and Tundra Animals and plants in these areas adapt to the cold/dry climate conditions