Unit 1: The World

Physical Geography

Weather

• Condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time

• Climate-weather conditions a particular location over a long period of time.

• Causes: water vapor, cloud cover, landforms, elevation, air movement

Weather Extremes

• Hurricanes/typhoons• Tornadoes• Blizzards• Droughts• Floods

Factors Affecting Climate

• Wind currents• Ocean Currents• Zones of Latitude • Elevation• Topography• Global Warming

World Climate Regions

• 5 large regions: tropical, dry, mid-latitude, high latitude, highland.

• Sub-regions exist too…

Sub-Regions

• Tropical Wet– Always hot– Sunny in the morning

but rain daily– Lots of rainfall: 80

inches a year– Central and South

America– Africa, Southwest Asia

Sub-Regions

• Tropical Wet and Dry– Rainy season in summer• Warmer temps

– Dry season in winter• Cooler temps

– Rainfall is less than in tropical wet

– Africa, South and Central America, parts of Asia

Sub-Regions

• Semiarid– Less than 20 inches of

rain a year– Summers are hot– Winters are mild to

cold– Interior of continents,

usually near deserts

Sub-Regions

• Desert– Hot or cold– Less than 10 inches of rain– Hot deserts: typically in southern hemisphere – Cold deserts: typically in northern hemisphere

Sub-Regions• Mediterranean– Dry and hot

summers– Cold and rainy

winters• Tundra– Near Arctic

Ocean– Permafrost– Less than 15

inches of rain– Summer lasts

only for a few weeks

Sub-Regions

• Other sub-regions:– Marine West Coast– Humid Subtropical– Humid Continental – Subarctic– Highlands

Soil and Vegetation Regions

• Ecosystem: interdependent community of plants and animals– Regional ecosystem: biome• Forest, grassland, desert, tundra

Soil and Vegetation Regions

• Forestlands– Deciduous trees:

drop leaves in the fall

– Coniferous trees: cones, don’t drop leaves/needles

– Rain forest

Soil and Vegetation Regions

• Grasslands– Savanna– Steppe/prairie

Soil and Vegetation Regions

• Desert and Tundra– Animals and plants in these areas adapt to the

cold/dry climate conditions