Chapter 7
Climate
Factors
2015-06-08
Global Factors:
Ø Latitude – hottest areas of the
earth are located close to the equator, coolest areas closest to the poles
Ø Wind Systems – there are prevailing
winds at different latitudes. Our prevailing wind system in our area is the
“Prevailing Westerlies”
Ø Air Masses – there are air masses of
different temperatures and pressures that affect climate
Ø Ocean
Currents
– warm and cold ocean currents exist and affect the temperatures of the air
travelling above them
Regional Factors:
Ø Altitude – higher the elevation
the cooler it is
Ø Mountain
Barriers
– orthographic precipitation
Ø Bodies of
Water –
large bodies of water retain heat which affect climate. In the cooler months,
places located close to bodies of water are usually warmer, and in the warmer
months of the year, places are usually cooler than locations not near the
water.
Ø Deserts - areas that have less
than 250mm of total precipitation
Climate Regions of the
World
1.
Tropical Climate – hot with rain all year
2.
Savanna Climate – hot with dry season
3.
Steppe Climate – warm and dry
4.
Desert Climate – hot and very dry
5.
Mild Climate – warm and wet
6.
Continental Climate – wet with cold winter
7.
Subarctic Climate – very cold winter
8.
Polar Climate – very cold and dry
9.
Mountainous Climate – altitude affects climate
Vegetation and Soils
2015-06-08
What is the difference between “vegetation” and “natural
vegetation”?
Vegetation refers to the plants that
grow in an area.
Natural
Vegetation
refers to plants that are native to the area – plants that grow there naturally
without human interference.
Factors that Affect
Vegetation:
ü Light
ü Moisture
ü Heat
ü Soil
ü Pollution
As a result, vegetation is
mainly determined by climate. We live in
a vegetative region called broadleaf deciduous woodlands, specifically part of
the Carolinian Forest.
