Chapter 2 Geography Notes Sections 2.4-2.8

Climate – A pattern of weather over a time period Climate zones – Geographers divide the Earth into climate zones to help the study of the Earth. Each zone has a pattern of temperature and precipitation

The patterns of weather are shown on a climagraph The Climagraph shows the average temperature and precipitation in a place over a year. Look at the labels on the sides and along the bottom.

5 main Climate Zones –look in your books pages 30-31 Tropical Dry Temperate Cold Polar

Location affects climate Things that affect Temperature Latitude is the most important – affects direct sunlight Elevation (Altitude) affects temperature – Places at higher elevations are cooler

Vegetation – Plants and tress that grow in an area – see pages 32-33 Climate has an effect on vegetation Colder Climate zones bushes and small plants grow Hot climates cacti grow Trees Coniferous trees – Needles and cones Deciduous Trees – Broad flat leaves that shed before winter

Population Density – The average number of people living an area. Tells us how crowded a place is Figuring Population density – Divide the number of people by the amount of space Number of people / Area in Square miles = number of people/square mile

Economic Activity – Any action that relates to making, buying, selling goods and services Economic activity maps show land use

Economic activity depends on a countries natural resources Natural resources include Fossil Fuels: Oil, Natural gas, Trees Water for Hydro electric power – converting moving water’s energy to usable power

An area with one or more features that set it apart from other areas Regions have both Human and physical characteristics Human Characteristics – Anything built by humans Physical Characteristics – water body or landform that occurs naturally