Latin America: Physical Geography and Slides

Finish Unnatural Causes Latin America: Setting the Boundaries Landforms and Climate Slides Environmental Issues

For Next Class: Read Brönnimann et al. 2014 on Readings link on AsUlearn

Unnatural Causes

1. Describe the body’s stress (fight or flight) response. How is chronic stress different? How might chronic stress increase the risk of illness and disease?

2. How do the lives of Jim Taylor, Tondra Young, Corey Andersonand Mary Turner exemplify concepts like the wealth-health gradient and the importance of power and control? What does comparing data maps of disease rates in the different Louisville council districts reveal? What might explain observed differences?

Setting the Boundaries

Do you agreewith your textbook’s

definition of Latin America? Why or

Why not?

Tunguhuara Volcano, Ecuador

Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador

ITCZ

STHP

ITCZ

STHP

Altitudinal Zonation

Vertical Zonation of Agroecological Zones

Tierra Caliente (Hot Land) – 0-1000 m (3,200 ft)• Hot all year round with tropical vegetation• Bananas, citrus fruits, tropical rain forest in places

Tierra Templada (Temperate Land) – 1,000-3,000 m• Land of Eternal Spring• Many temperate crops (corn was domesticated in this

zone)• Many major Latin American cities (Mexico City, Arequipa)

Tierra Fria (Cold Land) – 3,000-4,000 m • Limited agriculture; potatoes, barley, quiñoa• Altiplano of Peru/Bolivia

Puna/Páramo (Tundra) – 4,000-5,000 m (12,800-16,400 ft)• Extensive grazing of cameloids (llamas, alpacas, vicuñas)

Tierra Helada (Frozen Land) – 5,000 m+ (16,400 ft+)• Glaciers, snow, and rock!

La Mosquitia, HondurasMarch, 1993

Costa Rica Slides: Dec 1997

Chile Slides: March 2003 & June 1994

Ecuador Slides: May 2007

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Impacts of Climate Change

• Immediate concerns– Agriculture– Glacial retreat– Water availability– Diseases

• Long-term concerns– Mixed and unclear

© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

Environmental Issues

• Deforestation

• Desertification

• Water and air pollution

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• Conversion of tropical forests for beef production

Grassification

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Urban Environmental Challenges

• Air pollution– Santiago and

Mexico City