Transcript Document
Chapter 2/3: Physical Geography Tectonic Plates Tectonic Plates slide and grind past each other to cause landforms and natural disasters Volcano Earthquake Tsunami Erosion Mudslide Things to know about Earth 70% of the Earth’s surface is water, 97% of the water is found in oceans Hurricanes- happen mostly in the Atlantic Ocean, has to be at least 75 mph winds, they usually weaken over land but cause tornadoes (75% in US) & floods. (category 5-highest, 155 mph winds) Hurricane (again) Typhoon Tornadoes Revolution and Rotation The Earth’s revolution and tilt causes the changing seasons, the tilt effects the temperature The Earth’s rotation causes day and night Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn Climate Regions Tropical-these are also called the low latitudes (equator to Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn/0 degrees to 23 degrees) Types- tropical wet, tropical wet and dry, semiarid, arid, highland (these are found in Africa, South America and parts of Asia) Tropical Wet Arid/Semiarid Highland Climate cont. Mid Latitudes-great variety of precipitation and temperature (23 degrees to 66 degrees) Types- humid continental, humid subtropical (SE USA), marine west coast (located near the ocean is mainly damp and foggy), and Mediterranean (also in the US) Humid Subtropical Humid Continental Mediterranean Marine West Coast Climate cont. again High Latitudes- below freezing temps frozen soil (66 degrees to 90 degrees a.k.a. the poles) Types- tundra (some plants and bushes), ice cap (no vegetation), sub arctic (really cold) High Latitudes Vegetation Regions Vegetation depends on climate (more precip.=more plant life, less precip.= less plant life) Two important Types- Desert (not much plant life, dependant on precipitation- less than 10 in/yr) and Taiga (form a ring of trees around the Artic Circle) Desert Taiga Elements of Climate Factor Number 1 Elevation The higher the elevation, the colder the temperature. Factor Number 2 Latitude Belts Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle 90 HIGH Arctic Circle 66 1/2 MIDDLE Tropic of Cancer LOW 23 1/2 Equator 0 Tropic of Capricorn 23 1/2 MIDDLE Antarctic Circle 66 1/2 HIGH 90 90 N North Pole HIGH Arctic Circle 66 ½ N MIDDLE 23 ½ N Tropic of Cancer LOW Equator 0 Tropic of Capricorn 23 ½ S MIDDLE Antarctic Circle 66 ½ S South Pole HIGH 90 S Factor Number 3 Influence of Winds High mountains located near large bodies of water block the moisture that blows in from the ocean and create a rain shadow on the leeward side of the mountain. Vocabulary The windward side of the mountain is the side of the mountain that faces the ocean. When the winds blow the moisture in from the ocean, the windward side of the mountains gets the rain. As the air rises to go over the mountain, it cools and loses moisture before it gets over the mountain. The leeward side of the mountain is the side of the mountain that does not face the ocean. It is the arid side of the mountain. This side of the mountain lies in the rain shadow or an area that receives little rain. Windward side of the Mountain Leeward side of the Mountain Rain Shadow Winds blow in from west to east and are blocked by the coastal mountains. The moisture never makes it across the mountains Mountains Rain shadow Rain is blocked by the mountains http://gis.binghamton.edu/GIS%20Sites.htm Winds impact climate around the world. The Monsoons are winds that blow over Asia in the summer and winter. The winter monsoons are dry while the summer monsoons are wet. The people in Asia depend on the arrival of these winds to survive. Wind Patterns http://www.mrdowling.com/612monsoons.gif Factor Number 4 Proximity to Water Places located near large bodies of water have a relatively mild climate. Water does not heat up or cool down as quickly as the air temperature. The warmer breezes blowing off the water, create a mild climate. Countries located close to large bodies of warm water have a milder climate. Notice the warm ocean current off the coast of northwest Europe. North Atlantic Drift Compare the climate of London England with a city in Canada at the same latitude belt. Which region has the mildest climate? Why?