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Physical Geography WG.2a-c
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Climate charateristics
Three common charateristics that define climate Temperature Precipitation Seasons (hot/cold, wet/dry)
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Temperature is the degree of heat or cold in the atmosphere
Precipitation is the amount of moisture falling at any given moment. It can be in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or ice.
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Climate charateristics cont.
Elements that influence regional climate patterns latitude--higher the latitude the colder the climates wind elevation--higher and colder proximity (closeness) to water
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There are 3 latitude climate region
Low latitude climates--from 0-30 degrees N and S latitude (tropical) Mid latitude climates--from degrees N and S latitude (mild) High latitude climates—from degrees N and S latitude (polar)
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Elevation is the height an area is above sea level
Water influences temperature because it is slow to heat up or cool down. It can also influence precipitation.
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Elements that influence regional climate patterns
Wind currents--wind and ocean currents help transfer heat from one part of the earth to another. The process is known as convection. Wind also blows in curved lines because the earth rotates Coriolis Effect
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Climate charateristics cont.
World Climate Regions Low latitudes-tropical wet tropical wet and dry, arid, semiarid, and highland Middle Latitudes-semi-arid, arid, Mediterranean, humid continental, marine west coast, humid subtropical, highland
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Climate charateristics cont.
World Climate Regions High latitudes-subarctic, tundra, icecap
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Climate charateristics cont.
Vegetation Regions Rain forest -Savanna Desert -Steppe Middle Latitude forests Taiga -Tundra
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Climate charateristics cont.
Weather phenomena Monsoons--South and Southeast Asia (rainstorms) Typhoons--Pacific Ocean—Similar to a hurricane Hurricanes--Atlantic Ocean Tornadoes--United States
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Climate charateristics cont.
Effects of climate crops--what grows where clothing--what needs to be worn housing--type of building natural hazards--dangers
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Physical and ecological processes
There are four processes which have shaped the earth, Earthquakes, Floods, Volcanoes, and Erosion These four processes have created mountains, lakes, islands and have caused tremendous amounts of damage
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Human’s impact on the environment
Aral Sea--diverting water has caused the lake to shrink and become useless Colorado River--placing dams on the river has provided hydroelectric power to millions but destroyed the natural landscape
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Human’s impact on the environment
Aswan High Dam--has helped control the yearly flooding on the Nile River but has destroyed agriculture Canals—man made waterway Reservoirs—areas of stored water Irrigation—water used for farming
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How has the land changed due to man
Agricultural terracing has cut farms into the sides of hills and mountains in China and Southeast Asia The use of Polders has allowed the Netherlands to reclaim millions of acres of farmland from the sea
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Polder– land that has been taken back from the sea by building a dam and pumping the water out
Deforestation—removal of all trees from an area Desertification—the increase of deserts by drought and over-farming or over-grazing
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How has the land changed due to man
Deforestation has removed most of the forests in Nepal, Brazil, and Malaysia. This has caused a different set of problems in these areas Desertification has become a major problem in areas of Africa and Asia. Major deserts are growing.
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How has man changed the environment
Acid rain caused by pollution from factories and cars has destroyed monuments, cars, and major forests in Germany, Scandinavia, China and Eastern North America Pollution destroys wildlife, agriculture and the land and sea. Examples are Mexico City, Chernobyl, and oil spills
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Influence of technology
Agriculture--mechanization, fertilizers Energy usage--fossil fuels, nuclear Transportation--road building, railways
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Influence of technology cont.
Airplanes--airport expansion, noise Automobiles--parking lots, suburbs
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How does the environment impact on humans
Settlement patterns housing materials agricultural activity types of recreation transportation patterns
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