1. Climate Regions: United States & Canada

2. Northern Climates Subarctic (widest temp. range!) Very cold winters
2/3 of Canada
Tundra
Bitter winters, cool summers
Not many people live here…why?
It’s WAY TOO COLD!!!!!!
High pressure in Canada keeps subarctic areas cold in the winter. Also keeps central USA cold in the winter.

3. Northern Climates: Affect on Vegetation
Coniferous forests in subarctic region
Most plants cannot grow in tundra; only lichens and algae on rocks

4. Western Climates: Wide Variety!
Marine West Coast: inches of rain along Pacific Coast (Alaska to California)
Deserts located in-between Pacific Ranges & Rocky Mountains

5. Affect on climate
Latitude, elevation, ocean currents & rainfall can all effect climate
Ocean currents + wind from Pacific Ranges = Marine West Coast climate along Pacific
Rain-shadow effect produces deserts in-between Pacific Ranges & Rockies
High elevations (mountains) give a cooler, highland climate
Chinook winds (a warm, dry wind in late winter & early spring) blow in the Rocky Mountains and melts snow at the bottom of the mountain—warmer spring & summer!

6. Western Climates: Vegetation
Marine West Coast: coniferous forests
Desert & steppe: cacti & wildflowers
Vegetation varies in highlands; none above timberline, the elevation above which trees cannot grow

7. Interior Climates Humid Continental Bitterly cold winters, hot summers
10-30 inches of rain a year
From central U.S.A. (Great Plains) to southern Canada

8. Interior Climates: Factors Affecting Climate
Supercells, or violent spring & summer thunderstorms, can produce tornadoes
Moist winds from the Gulf of Mexico gives this area rainfall
 why there is no rain- shadow effect from the Rockies

9. Interior Climates: Affect on Vegetation
Prairies, or naturally treeless expanses of grasses, are found in the Great Plains

10. Eastern Climates Humid Subtropical: long & muggy summers, mild winters
Humid Continental also found here

11. Factors Affecting Climate: Eastern
Hurricanes can hit coastlines (ocean storms with winds of at least 74 mph)
Blizzards hit places along the Humid Continental climate region in the winter.

12. Vegetation: Eastern Climates
Deciduous forests around Mississippi River (near Louisiana) and in NE USA
Swamps & wetlands found in Florida and Louisiana (humid subtropical)

13. Tropical Climates Tropical Savanna Tropical Rain Forest
Climate in the southern tip of Florida
Tropical Rain Forest
Found in Hawaii and in Puerto Rico (P.R. is not a state, but the USA owns it)

14. Factors Affecting Climate: Tropical
The proximity (closeness) to the equator gives this region warm temperatures year-round
Hurricanes can also hit this region

15. Vegetation: LUSH!! (A lot)