Climate and Vegetation

CLIMATECLIMATE

Weather Weather Is a moment’s view of the lower atmosphereIs a moment’s view of the lower atmosphere

- Elements: temperature, wind and - Elements: temperature, wind and precipitation are recorded at specified precipitation are recorded at specified moments in time moments in time

- By finding trends in data that have been - By finding trends in data that have been gathered over an extended period of time - we gathered over an extended period of time - we can speak about typical conditionscan speak about typical conditions

These characteristic circumstances describe These characteristic circumstances describe the the climate of a region.climate of a region.

Climate Climate

Is the description of typical weather conditions Is the description of typical weather conditions in an area or at a place over a period of time. in an area or at a place over a period of time.

CLIMATE CHARACTERISTICSCLIMATE CHARACTERISTICS Climate Type Climate Type

TROPICAL TROPICAL

Tropical Rain Tropical Rain Forest Forest

Temperature and Temperature and Precipitation Precipitation

Constant high temperature Constant high temperature

Rainfall heavy all yearRainfall heavy all year

High amount of cloud cover High amount of cloud cover

High humidity High humidity


TROPICAL TROPICAL

Savanna Savanna


High temperature High temperature

Rainfall heavy in summerRainfall heavy in summer

high- sun period high- sun period

Dry in winter low-sun period Dry in winter low-sun period

Monsoon: highest temperatureMonsoon: highest temperature

Just before rainy season Just before rainy season


SEMIDESERT SEMIDESERT AND DRYLAND AND DRYLAND

Hot deserts Hot deserts


Extremely high temperatureExtremely high temperature

in summer in summer

Very little rainfall Very little rainfall

Low humidity Low humidity


SEMIDESERT SEMIDESERT AND DRYLAND AND DRYLAND

Steppe Steppe


Warm to hot summersWarm to hot summers

Cold wintersCold winters

Some rainfall in summer Some rainfall in summer

Some snowfall in winter Some snowfall in winter


HUMID HUMID MIDLATITUDE MIDLATITUDE

Mediterranean Mediterranean


Warm to hot summersWarm to hot summers

Mild to cool wintersMild to cool winters

Dry summer Dry summer

Generally low humidity Generally low humidity



Humid Humid subtropical subtropical


Hot summersHot summers

Mild wintersMild winters

Showers in summer Showers in summer



Marine West Marine West Coast Coast


Westerly winds year- roundWesterly winds year- round

Mild summersMild summers

Cool to cold wintersCool to cold winters

Low rainfall in summer Low rainfall in summer



Humid Humid Continental Continental


Hot to mild summersHot to mild summers

Cool to very cold wintersCool to very cold winters

Showers in summerShowers in summer

Snowfall in winter Snowfall in winter


ARCTIC AND ARCTIC AND

SUBARCTIC SUBARCTIC

Subarctic, Subarctic, Tundra Tundra


Cool to cold, short summers Cool to cold, short summers

Extremely cold wintersExtremely cold winters


ARCTIC AND ARCTIC AND

SUBARCTIC SUBARCTIC

Ice cap Ice cap


Dry climates with someDry climates with some

summer and wintersummer and winter

precipitation precipitation


Highlands Highlands


Great variety of conditions Great variety of conditions based on elevation, based on elevation, prevailing winds, sun or non-prevailing winds, sun or non-sun facing slopes, latitude, sun facing slopes, latitude, valley or non- valley, valley or non- valley, ruggedness ruggedness

Natural VegetationNatural Vegetation

The plants that would exist The plants that would exist in an area if people did not in an area if people did not modify or interfere with the modify or interfere with the growth process. growth process.

VEGETATION TYPE VEGETATION TYPE

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST TROPICAL RAIN FOREST In the hotter parts of the world, where rainfall In the hotter parts of the world, where rainfall is heavy and well scattered throughout the yearis heavy and well scattered throughout the year

SAVANNA VEGATATION SAVANNA VEGATATION When tropical rainfall is seasonal, savanna When tropical rainfall is seasonal, savanna vegetation occurs, characterized by a low vegetation occurs, characterized by a low grassland with occasional patches of forest or grassland with occasional patches of forest or individual treesindividual trees


MEDITERRANEAN OR CHAPARRAL MEDITERRANEAN OR CHAPARRAL VEGETATION VEGETATION Found in the hot summer and mild, damp winter Found in the hot summer and mild, damp winter midlatitudes. This type of vegetation consists mainly midlatitudes. This type of vegetation consists mainly of shrubs and trees of limited size. of shrubs and trees of limited size.

SEMIDESERT AND DESERT VEGETATION SEMIDESERT AND DESERT VEGETATION Is made up of dwarf trees, shrubs and various types of Is made up of dwarf trees, shrubs and various types of cactus, although in gravelly and sandy areas, virtually cactus, although in gravelly and sandy areas, virtually no plant exist. no plant exist.


PRAIRIE OR STEPPE PRAIRIE OR STEPPE

These are extensive grasslands, usually These are extensive grasslands, usually growing on high humus content soils.growing on high humus content soils.

DECIDUOUS WOODLANDS DECIDUOUS WOODLANDS

When rainfall is higher in temperature areas, When rainfall is higher in temperature areas, the leaves fall during this season. the leaves fall during this season.


CONIFEROUS FORESTS CONIFEROUS FORESTS

Northerly regions that have mild summers and Northerly regions that have mild summers and very cold winters very cold winters

TUNDRA VEGETATION TUNDRA VEGETATION

A complex mix of very low growing shrubs, A complex mix of very low growing shrubs, mosses, lichens, and grasses mosses, lichens, and grasses

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Climate and Vegetation