1. Climate and Vegetation
How do climate and vegetation differ across the United States?

2. Factors Affecting Climate
Distance from the equator
Distance from the ocean
Elevation-height of land in relation to sea level
For every 1,000 feet above sea level, the temperature drops 3 degrees

4. Earth and Sun
Earth’s orbit around the sun causes the seasons to change
The tilt of the Earth causes different places to get different amounts of heat and sunlight at different times of the year

5. Vegetation Natural Vegetation- plant life that grows naturally
Varies depending on soil, temperature and precipitation

6. Vegetation Regions
Forests-stretch across large areas in the eastern and western U.S.
Grassland- covers much of the middle of the country, including the Central and Great Plains
Deserts-only plants that can grow in an arid, or dry, climate grow
Tundra-a cold, dry region where trees cannot grow, snow covered more than half of the year