1. Geography of the Americas

2. Section 4
Climate and Resources

3. Climate and Weather Patterns
Climate – the usual weather pattern of an area over a long period of time.
Weather – condition of the earth’s atmosphere over a short period of time.
What affects climate?
Temperature
Precipitation
Latitude
Elevation
Currents

4. Climate Regions in North America
Tropical
hot, humid weather most of the year
Southern Florida & Hawaii
Citrus and pineapple crops

5. Mediterranean mild, wet winters and dry hot summers California coast
crops grown year-round

6. C. Marine moist and rainy year-round
along Pacific coast in southern Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and northern California

7. D. Highland cool most of the year
Cascades, Sierra Nevadas, and Rocky Mountains

8. E. Steppe little rainfall
extremes of temperature – hot summers, cold temperatures and blizzards in winter
region east of the Rockies

9. F. Desert less than 10 inches of rainfall in a year
southwest US and southeast of Sierra Nevadas

10. G. Tundra and Subarctic cold nearly year-round
Tundra – plain with no trees
Alaska

11. H. Humid Continental & Humid Subtropical
mild summers, cold winters, year-round precipitation
Humid subtropical has warmer temperatures
good for farming

12. Assignments:
Read page 30.
Study for test.
Understand the map on page 27.