Physical Geography

ClimateCharacteristics

A. TemperatureB. PrecipitationC. Seasons (hot/cold,

wet/dry)

Elements Effecting Climate

A. LatitudeB. Winds – Distributes

heatC. ElevationD. Water – Moderate

temperatureE. Ocean Currents

Latitude

See the patterns along latitudes?

Wind Patterns

Wind Patterns

Elevation

Ocean Currents

Wind & Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents

Climate RegionsLow Latitudes

A. Tropical Wet – Rains a lot and is hot (Rainforest)

B. Tropical Wet and Dry – Rains half the year and is hot (Savanna)

Climate RegionsMiddle Latitudes

A. Mediterranean-Hot climate all year. Small shrubs and trees. Located in Southern California, Spain, Italy, Greece.

B. Humid Continental-Cold winters, warm summers, located in Northeast U.S.

C. Humid Subtropical- AlabamaD. Marine West Coast–Coast of Oregon

Climate RegionsHigh Latitudes

A. Subarctic -Very cold winters. (boreal forests such as Taiga)

B. Tundra (cold grassland, no tress grow)

C. Icecap – Artic & Antarctica

Climate RegionsOther

A. Arid (desert) N. AfricaB. Semiarid (almost desert) dry grasslands such as

steppeC. Highland (located in mountains) Alps, Andes

Vegetation

A. Rainforest – Forest with broadleaf trees located in low latitudes (jungle)

B. Savanna – Tropical grassland in Africa

C. Steppe – Dry grassland near deserts (Sahara, Gobi)

D. Middle Latitude Forest – Mixed forest with coniferous and deciduous trees

E. Taiga – Coniferous forest located in Russia (boreal forest)

F. Tundra – Cold grassland with permafrost

Rainforest

Savanna

Steppe

Mixed Forest

Taiga

Tundra

Weather

A. Monsoons – Seasonal wind patterns in South and Southeast Asia that bring rain

B. Typhoons – Tropical storms in Pacific Ocean

C. Hurricanes – Tropical storms in Atlantic Ocean

D. Tornadoes – Twisting funnel shaped storms in U.S.

Monsoons

A. Positive – Brings rain so people can grow crops

B. Negative – Rain causes flooding near rivers and areas with low elevation

Monsoons

Tornadoes

Climate

Climate has an effect on:

A. CropsB. ClothingC. HousingD. Natural Hazards

Crops

Clothing

Housing