PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE: CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Essential Questions: How has physical geography affected where people have settled in Europe? Learning Target: IWBAT explain how the climate has influenced where people live in Europe. Formative Assessment(s): Name five important landforms in Europe. Explain why these landforms are important.

BELLWORK What climate would you expect to find in Europe?

ANIMAL LIFE IN EUROPE Due to the density of population in Europe there are few areas of natural habitat remaining and many indigenous animals are now extinct or in danger of extinction. Brown bears and wolves can be found in the northern coniferous forest regions. Deer, foxes, hedgehogs, snakes and wild cats can be found in the deciduous forest regions.

CLASSWORK TOGETHER, read about Influences on Climate on page 286 Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 1.What influences climate in Europe? 2.What brings warm winds that gives most of Europe a mild climate? 3.Where is the coldest climate found in Europe? (as shown on map on page 286) 1.What vegetation grows here? 4.According to the map, what are the three most common types of vegetation found in Europe?

NORTH ATLANTIC CURRENT FUN FACTS Europe is kept warm by water brought all the way from Mexico by the North Atlantic Current. Without this water from the Gulf of Mexico, Europe would be much colder, leading to freezing temperatures during the winter and cooler summers. This current also brings cold water from Europe back to Florida. This is why coastal Florida temperatures tend to be a little cooler than inland Florida temperatures during summer.

CLASSWORK TOGETHER, read about Climate Regions on pages Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 1.What countries have tundra? 2.What climate gets 90 inches of rain annually? 3.What climate do Sweden and Finland have? 4.What climate does the majority of Europe have? 5.What trees are common in European deciduous forests? 6.What is a mistral?

CLASSWORK TOGETHER, read about Climate Regions on pages Write and answer the following questions in your notes: 7.What is siroccos? 8.What can cause avalanches in the Alps? 9.What countries are in the southeastern European steppe?

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT How does latitude affect climate and vegetation in Europe?