Transcript Southern South America - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Regions Of the World
Alexandra Sampedro
Christian Moreno
Julius Lostal
PSC1515 Honors
Southern South America
• Argentina,
Chile, Peru,
Uruguay,
Paraguay,
Bolivia
Physical Coordinates
• Argentina: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
• Chile:30 00 S, 71 00 W
• Peru: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
• Uruguay: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
• Paraguay:23 00 S, 58 00 W
• Bolivia: 17 00 S, 65 00 W
Days and nights
• In late March and late September both hemispheres are the same
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distance from the Sun and the Sun is said to be at an equinox.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox occurs in
September and the autumnal equinox occurs in March.
At the equinoxes, the Sun appears to be directly over Earth’s
equator.
The lengths of day and night are then equal over almost all Earth,
except at the poles.
The Sun is said to be at a solstice when the difference between the
distances from each pole to the Sun is at its greatest.
The solstices usually occur on December 21 or 22 and June 21 or
22. In December, the Southern Hemisphere has its summer solstice.
In June, the Southern Hemisphere has its winter solstice.
The Southern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day of sunlight
and its longest night.
Time Zones
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Argentina: ART
Chile: CLT
Peru: PET
Uruguay: UYT
Paraguay: PYT
Bolivia: BOT
All countries can be found east of the
International Date Line and West of the Prime
Meridian
Countries From Tropics
• South of the Tropic of Cancer
• South of the Tropic of Capricorn
• South of the Equator
• North of the South Pole
• South of the North Pole
Rocks and Minerals
• Argentina: lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore,
manganese, uranium.
• Chile: copper, iron ore, and molybdenum.
• Peru: copper, silver, gold, iron ore.
• Uruguay: minor minerals.
• Paraguay: iron ore, manganese, limestone
• Bolivia: zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver,
iron, lead, gold.
Plate Tectonics
• Cocos Plate
– An oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west
coast of Central America.
– The northeastern and eastern sides are convergent boundaries
subducting under the North American Plate, the Caribbean Plate,
and the South American Plate.
– The Cocos Plate is bounded by divergent boundaries to the
south with the Nazca Plate and to the west with the Pacific
Plate.
– To the northeast of the subducting edge lies the continuous arc
of volcanoes stretching from Costa Rica to Guatemala and a belt
of earthquakes that extends farther north, into Mexico.
Plate Tectonics
• South American Plate
– A tectonic plate covering the continent of South America and
extending eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
– The easterly side is a divergent boundary with the African Plate
forming the southern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
– The southerly side is a complex boundary with the Antarctic
Plate and the Scotia Plate.
– The westerly side is a convergent boundary with the subducting
Nazca Plate.
– The northerly side is a boundary with the Caribbean Plate.
– Responsible for lifting the massive Andes Mountains and causing
volcanoes.
Plate Tectonics
• Nazca Plate
• The Nazca Plate, is an oceanic tectonic plate in the eastern Pacific
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Ocean basin off the west coast of South America.
The eastern margin is a convergent boundary subduction zone
under the South American Plate and the Andes Mountains, forming
the Peru-Chile trench. The southern side is a divergent boundary
with the Antarctic Plate.
The western side is a divergent boundary with the Pacific Plate,
forming the East Pacific Rise.
The northern side is a divergent boundary with the Cocos Plate, the
Galapagos Rise.
Responsible for causing volcanoes.
Argentina’s Geographical
Features
• Mountain Ranges
– Andes mountain range along the western border
• Lakes
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Argentino and Viedma are in Santa Cruz
Nahuel Huapi is in Río Negro
Fagnano is in Tierra del Fuego
Colhué Huapi and Musters are in Chubut
Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, is the largest salt water
lake in the country
• Rivers
– Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado,
Uruguay and the largest river, the Paraná
Argentina’s Geographical
Features cont.  Glaciers
• Volcanoes
– Volcanoes of Argentina are
located in the Andes mountains
on the border with Chile
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Cerro Tuzgle
Aracar
Volcan Antofalla
Antofagasta de la Sierra
Cerro El Condor
Peinado
Robledo
Socompa
Tipas
Volcan Domuyo
Tromen
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The Perito Moreno Glacier
(50°29′S, 73°03′W) is a glacier
located in the Los Glaciares
National Park in the south west of
Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It
is one of the most important
tourist attractions in the
Argentine Patagonia.
Argentina’s Geographical
Features cont.
• Earthquakes
– First documented
earthquake
occurred in 1692.
– Since then over 60
earthquakes have
occurred.
Chile’s Geographical Features
• Mountain Ranges
– The Andes Mountains are located on the
eastern border.
• Lakes
– The altiplano lakes of the Valley of the Moon are
popular destinations.
– In Putre, also in the North, there is the
Chungará Lake.
• Rivers
– There are around 80 rivers in Chile.
• Major rivers are the Loa River (basin area of
33,570 km²) and the Baker River (26,726 km2)
Chile’s Geographical Features
cont.
• Volcanoes
– The Parinacota and the Pomerape volcanoes are in northern Putre
• Glaciers
– There are glaciers in the east and south east.
• Earthquakes
– Because of the Andes Mountains, Chile is home to some of the most
powerful earthquakes in the world.
Peru’s Geographical Features
• Mountain Ranges
– The Andes mountains run parallel
to the Pacific Ocean.
• Lakes
– Shares control of Lake Titicaca,
world's highest navigable lake,
with Bolivia.
• Rivers
– Representing roughly 60% of
Peru's national territory, the
Amazon Basin includes the
Amazon, Marañón, Huallaga and
Ucayali Rivers.
Peru’s Geographical Features
cont.
Name
• Volcanoes
– This is a list of
active and inactive
volcanoes in Peru.
Elevation (meters and ft)
Andahua Valley
4713
15,462
Cerro
Auquihuato
4980
16,338
Coropuna
6377
20,922
El Misti
5822
19,101
Huaynaputina
4850
15,912
Nevado Chachani
6057
19,872
Nevados Casiri
5650
18,537
Nevados Firura
5498
18,038
Picchu-Picchu
5564
18,255
Quimsachata
3923
12,871
Sabancaya
5967
19,577
Sara Sara
5522
18,117
Ticsani
5408
17,743
Tutupaca
5815
19,078
Ubinas
5672
18,609
Yucamane
5550
18,208
Peru’s Geographical Features
cont.
• Glaciers
– They are present near the
Andes Mountains
• Earthquakes
– Earthquakes are common,
and in the past years Peru
has experienced some of the
world’s most devastating
earthquakes.
Uruguay’s Geographical
Features
• Mountain Ranges
– None
• Lakes
– Lakes and lagoons are numerous
• Paso de los Toros has created a reservoir--the Embalse del Río
Negro--that is the largest artificial lake in South America.
• Rivers
– The longest and most important of the rivers draining westward is
the Río Negro, which crosses the entire country from northeast to
west before emptying into the Río Uruguay
Uruguay’s Geographical
Features cont.
• Volcanoes
– None
• Glaciers
– None
• Earthquakes
– None
Paraguay’s Geographical
Features
• Mountain Ranges
– Major mountain is Cerro San Rafael, with an altitude of
850 m
• Lakes
– Small, isolated peaks are numerous, and it is in the
vicinity of Asuncion that the only lakes of any size are
found.
• Rivers
– The Río Paraguay has a total course of 2,600
kilometers, 2,300 of which are navigable and 1,200.
– About 4,700 kilometers long, the Río Paraná is the
second major river in the country.
Paraguay’s Geographical
Features cont.
• Volcanoes
– None
• Glaciers
– None
• Earthquakes
– Rare
Bolivia’s Geographical Features
• Mountain Ranges
– The Cordillera Occidental is a chain of dormant volcanoes and
solfataras, volcanic vents emitting sulfurous gases. Bolivia's
highest peak, the snowcapped Sajama (6,542 meters), is located
here.
• Lakes
– The most prominent feature of the Altiplano is the large lake at its
northern end, Lake Titicaca. At 3,810m above sea level, it is the
highest commercially navigable body of water in the world.
• Rivers
– Rivers, draining to the east, have cut long narrow valleys; these
valleys and the basins between the ranges are favorable areas for
crops and settlement.
Bolivia’s Geographical Features
cont.
• Volcanoes
– Near the Argentine border, the floor of the
Altiplano rises again, creating hills and volcanoes
that span the gap between the eastern and
western cordilleras of the Andes.
• Glaciers
– Bolivia has a total glacier-covered area of more
than 560 square kilometers
• Earthquakes
– Common because of proximity to Andes mountains
Argentina’s Atmospheric
Pressure
• Highest Point
– High regions of Argentina surpass 2,500
meters (8,200 ft.) above sea level. The
lack of oxygen and atmospheric
pressure may cause headaches, nausea,
shortness of breath, and physical
weakness in some people
• Lowest Point
– The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón
in Santa Cruz, −105 meters (−344 ft)
below sea level. This is also the lowest
point on the South American continent
Chile’s Atmospheric Pressure
• Highest Point
– Ojos del Salado in Andes of
Atacama Region at 6,893 m
(22,615 ft) is the highest point.
• Lowest Point
– Pacific Ocean, 0 m
Peru’s Atmospheric Pressure
• Highest Point
– Nevado Huascaran
(6,768 m.)
• Lowest Point
– -34 m (Bayovar
Depression)
Uruguay’s Atmospheric Pressure
• Highest Point
– Cerro Catedral, 514 m
• Lowest Point
– Atlantic Ocean, 0 m
Paraguay’s Atmospheric
Pressure
• Highest Point
– Cerro San Rafael 850 m
• Lowest Point
– Junction of Rio Paraguay
and Rio Parana 46 m
Bolivia’s Atmospheric Pressure
• Highest Point
– Nevado Sajama
6,542 m
• Lowest Point
– Rio Paraguay 90 m
Carbon Dioxide Levels
• Argentina
– 141.7 metric tons of CO2 were emitted in 2004,
which is relatively low compared to other
industrialized countries
• Chile
– In 2001, 54 metric tons of CO2 were emitted
• Peru
– In 2004, 31.5 metric tons of CO2 were emitted
• Uruguay
– In 2004, 5.5 metric tons of CO2 were emitted
Carbon Dioxide Levels continued
• Paraguay
– In 2004, 4.2 metric tons of
CO2 were emitted
• Bolivia
– In 2004, 7.0 metric tons of CO2
were emitted
Wind Patterns
• Argentina
– Major winds in Argentina include the cool Pampero blowing on the
flat plains of Patagonia and the Pampas after a cold front; the
Viento Norte, a warm wind that can blow from the north in mid
and late winter creating mild conditions; and the Zonda, a hot and
dry wind, affecting west-central Argentina
• Chile
– The virtually constant wind from the South Pacific Ocean makes
the air feel much colder.
• Peru
– Occasionally thunderstorms can be accompanied by frequent
cloud to ground lightning, strong winds and damaging hail,
especially during the onset of the rainy season and over higher
elevations.
Wind Patterns continued
• Uruguay
– High winds are a disagreeable characteristic of the weather,
particularly during the winter and spring, and wind shifts are
sudden and pronounced. A winter warm spell can be abruptly
broken by a strong pampero, a chilly and occasionally violent wind
blowing north from the Argentine pampas.
• Paraguay
– Winds are generally brisk. Velocities of 160 kilometers per hour
have been reported in southern locations
• Bolivia
– The rain-bearing northeast trade winds, blowing across the
Amazon Basin, bring significant rainfall amounts. Rain often falls
in brief thunderstorms, sometimes accompanied by strong winds
and hail.
Levels of Humidity
• Argentina
– The north of the country is characterized by very
hot, humid summers
• Chile
– The climate in Easter Island is humid subtropical
– The northward-flowing oceanic Humboldt Current
creates humid and foggy conditions near the coast
• Peru
– The coast has moderate temperatures, low
precipitations, and high humidity.
– Foggy and sunny days intermingle around the
humid sand dunes most of the year.
Levels of Humidity continued
• Uruguay
– High humidity and fog are common, especially
around Montevideo
• Paraguay
– The Paraneña region is humid, with abundant
precipitation throughout the year
– Frequent waves of cool air from the south,
however, cause weather that alternates between
clear, humid conditions and storms
• Bolivia
– Northern lowland areas have a tropical wet climate
with year-round high temperatures, high humidity,
and heavy rainfall.
Climate Zones
• Argentina: mostly temperate; arid in
southeast; subantarctic in southwest
• Chile: temperate; desert in north;
Mediterranean in central region; cool and
damp in south
• Peru: varies from tropical in east to dry
desert in west; temperate to frigid in
Andes
Climate Zones
• Uruguay: warm temperate; freezing
temperatures almost unknown
• Paraguay: subtropical to temperate;
substantial rainfall in the eastern portions,
becoming semiarid in the far west
• Bolivia: varies with altitude; humid and
tropical to cold and semiarid
Effects of Mountains
• The Andes Mountains running along the western
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Coast influence the drier regions on Chile and
southern Peru.
Chile has a mountain climate, with snow and
glaciers. The northern part of Chile is one of the
driest regions in the world.
Winds coming from the pacific cross through the
Andes and cause dry weather conditions along
the west coast.
Effects of Altitude
• The higher altitude areas have lower
temperatures.
• The Highest altitude can be found in
Aconcagua, Argentina. 22,841 ft above
sea level.
• Low altitude areas around coastlands have
temperate climate.
Effects of Oceans
• Oceans store a large amount of heat, so that
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small changes in ocean currents can have a
large effect on coastal and global climate
Areas near the Pacific and Atlantic oceans will
tend to be cooler.
On the west coast of South America, the
Humboldt current normally brings cold water to
the surface.
Marine or Continental
• Argentina: mostly Marine, some
continental in central areas
• Chile: Mostly Marine, some continental
• Peru: Continental
• Uruguay: Marine
• Paraguay: Marine
• Bolivia: Marine
Arid or Humid Patterns
• Argentina: arid in southeast , higher
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precipitation in North
Chile: Very Arid in North, Humid in central;
Peru: West is Arid, East is humid;
Uruguay: Mostly humid, rain equally distributed
through the year. Avg-36 inches of rain.
Paraguay: Humid, especially in summer
Bolivia: Humid from Nov-Mar, Cold and dry from
Apr-Oct. High rainfall during summer months
Microclimates
• Major cities like Buenos Aires, Argentina
can be characterized as a microclimate
due to the high amounts of pollution, and
buildings that contribute to a change in
local climate.
Oceans
• West coast: Pacific Ocean
• East Coast: Atlantic
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Ocean
The water closer to the
equator is less salty
because of the abundant
precipitation.
The salinity would be
greater around the tip of
Argentina and less going
up the east and west
coasts.
Severe Weather Disturbances
Argentina
• Earthquakes near
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the Andes
Violent
windstorms
Heavy Flooding
Volcanic Eruption In Chile
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=m9DrNyBUu
p0
Severe Weather Disturbances
Chile
• Severe Earthquakes
• Active Volcanism
• Tsunamis
Severe Weather Disturbances
Peru
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Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Flooding
Landslides
Mild volcanic activity
Severe Weather Disturbances
• Paraguay: local flooding in southeast (early
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September to June); poorly drained plains may
become boggy (early October to June)
Uruguay: seasonally high winds (the pampero is
a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows
north from the Argentine pampas), droughts,
floods; because of the absence of mountains,
which act as weather barriers, all locations are
particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from
weather fronts
Bolivia: flooding in the northeast (March-April)
Biomes in the area
• Argentina: Grassland,
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Dessert, Mountain
Chile: Deciduous Forest
Peru: Rainforest,
Mountain, Deciduous
Forest.
Uruguay: Grassland
Paraguay: Grassland,
Savanna
Bolivia: Rainforest,
Mountain
Population
Argentina:
0-14 years: 24.9%
15-64 years: 64.4%
Reproductive
65 years and over:
10.7%
-Will continue to
grow then stabilize
Population
Chile:
• 0-14 years: 24.1%
15-64 years: 67.4%
Reproductive
65 years and over:
8.5%
- Will continue to
grow then stabilize
Population
Peru:
• 0-14 years: 30.3%
15-64 years:
64.2%Reproductive
65 years and over:
5.4%
-Will continue to
grow then stabilize
Population
Uruguay:
• 0-14 years: 23%
15-64 years: 63.8%
Reproductive
65 years and over:
13.2%
-Will continue to grow
then stabilize
Population
Paraguay:
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0-14 years: 37.2%
15-64 years: 57.7%
Reproductive
65 years and over: 5.1%
-Will continue to grow
then stabilize
Population
Bolivia:
• 0-14 years: 34.3%
15-64 years: 61.1%
Reproductive
65 years and over:
4.6%
-Will continue to grow
then stabilize
Resources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean for
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info on salinity of oceans
http://www.spainexchange.com/guide/ARclimate.htm
http://www.bartleby.com/
http://itotd.com/articles/223/microclimates/
http://www.argentina.org.au/climate.htm
http://www.letus.northwestern.edu/projects/esp
/top10/andespage/andes.html