1. Unit 1: The Basics of Geography
Chapter 3: Physical Geography

2. 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

3. Weather Extremes Hurricanes/typhoons Tornadoes Blizzards Droughts
Floods

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

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

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

14. Soil and Vegetation Regions
Grasslands
Savanna
Steppe/prairie

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