Climate Vegetation Weather vs Climate Large bodies of

Climate & Vegetation � Weather vs. Climate

� Large bodies of water makes a difference: � Water retains warm temperatures easier and longer than land does…so places by big bodies of water tend to be warmer than places further inland

� Locations further inland, away from large water sources tend to have CONTINENTAL CLIMATES: Extreme temperature differences with colder winters…and hot summers

� Higher elevations result in colder temperatures � Air temperature decreases about 3. 5 degrees F for every 1, 000 feet up

� Mountain ranges also affect precipitation patterns by creating “rain shadow effects” � Orographic Precipitation

Linking Climate to Vegetation � Climate obviously determines what grows where, so the world is divided into different vegetation regions

� Geographers classify regions based on their NATURAL VEGETATION: � The typical plant life that lives in a place where humans have not affected the land

� There are four main types of vegetation regions in the world: � FOREST REGIONS � GRASSLAND REGIONS � DESERT REGIONS � TUNDRA REGIONS

Forest Regions… � There actually four different types of forests:

� 1. TROPICAL RAINFORESTS are found where it is hot and rainy

� 2. DECIDUOUS FORESTS are ones in which the trees shed their leaves during part of the year

� 3. CONIFEROUS FORESTS are found in colder regions as they have needle leaves that stay on year-round

� 4. CHAPARRAL FORESTS are found where there are small evergreen trees and low bushes

Grassland Regions � There are three different types of grasslands:

� SAVANNAS are found near the equator where they can survive dry periods

� TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS vary in length and kinds of grasses, they are often called “prairies”

� STEPPES: Dry, highland grasslands located in Southeastern Europe or Asia

Desert Regions � They may be just barren, sandy places, or they may have cacti and scrub plants

� ARID (extremely dry; little to no life) � SEMI-ARID (sustains more life)

Tundra � There are two types of Tundra in the world: � 1. ARCTIC TUNDRA which is usually snowcapped and found near the poles

� 2. ALPINE TUNDRA areas near the tops of mountains that often have very hardy trees or mossy plants

� PERMAFROST is found in parts of the tundra �A layer of soil just below the surface that remains permanently frozen year-round

What vegetation region would you MOST like to live in and why?