Physical Physical Characteristics of a Characteristics of a

Place Place

Physical Physical Characteristics of a Characteristics of a

Place Place

World GeographyWorld GeographyWorld GeographyWorld Geography

Physical Physical CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Physical Physical CharacteristicsCharacteristics

CLIMATECLIMATE

ECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMS

LANDFORMSLANDFORMS

RESOURCESRESOURCES

WEATHERWEATHERWEATHERWEATHER

The condition of the bottom layer of the The condition of the bottom layer of the

earth’s atmosphere over a short period of earth’s atmosphere over a short period of

timetime

Examples: Examples:

CLIMATECLIMATECLIMATECLIMATE

Weather patterns that an area typically Weather patterns that an area typically

experience over a long period of time. experience over a long period of time.

Examples:Examples:

CLIMATE REGIONSCLIMATE REGIONSCLIMATE REGIONSCLIMATE REGIONS

Climate regions are defined by two Climate regions are defined by two

factors:factors:

TemperatureTemperature

PrecipitationPrecipitation

ECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMS

The interaction of plant life, animal life The interaction of plant life, animal life

and the environment in which they live.and the environment in which they live.

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain ForestTropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Near the equatorNear the equator

Warm and wetWarm and wet

South America and South America and AfricaAfrica

Deciduous ForestDeciduous ForestDeciduous ForestDeciduous Forest

Trees that shed Trees that shed their leavestheir leaves

Europe, North Europe, North America and East America and East AsiaAsia

Coniferous ForestConiferous ForestConiferous ForestConiferous Forest

Trees that can Trees that can survive long, cold survive long, cold winterswinters

Pines, Spruces Pines, Spruces and Firsand Firs

All have needlesAll have needles

North America, North America, Europe, AsiaEurope, Asia

ChaparralChaparralChaparralChaparral

An area of An area of underbrush and underbrush and small treessmall trees

Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea, Chile, Sea, Chile, California, South California, South Africa, AustraliaAfrica, Australia

Tropical GrasslandTropical GrasslandTropical GrasslandTropical Grassland

Warm land near Warm land near the equatorthe equator

Also called Also called savannassavannas

South America, South America, AfricaAfrica

Temperate Temperate GrasslandGrasslandTemperate Temperate GrasslandGrassland

Grassland in Grassland in cooler parts of the cooler parts of the worldworld

Also called a Also called a prairieprairie

North America North America (Midwest, Great (Midwest, Great Plains)Plains)

DesertDesertDesertDesert

Not always barrenNot always barren

Some plants can Some plants can store hundreds of store hundreds of gallons of watergallons of water

Africa, Central Africa, Central America, AsiaAmerica, Asia

TundraTundraTundraTundra

Cool climate, small Cool climate, small plants, few plants, few animalsanimals

Northern latitudesNorthern latitudes

LANDFORMSLANDFORMSLANDFORMSLANDFORMS

Natural features of the landscapeNatural features of the landscape

bay, butte, canyon, cape, cliff, delta, bay, butte, canyon, cape, cliff, delta,

gulf, isthmus, lake, peninsula, plateau, gulf, isthmus, lake, peninsula, plateau,

pond, river, strait...pond, river, strait...

RESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCES

Materials in the environment that people Materials in the environment that people

value and use to satisfy their needs. value and use to satisfy their needs.

RenewableRenewable

Soil, water, sun (for 5 billion more years)Soil, water, sun (for 5 billion more years)

NonrenewableNonrenewable

Fossil fuels, natural gas, coal, ironFossil fuels, natural gas, coal, iron

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