Download Physical Geography of the USA and Canada Climate Regions

Done by: Mrs. Karen Rivera
7th Grade
Physical Geography of the USA and Canada
Climate Regions
The region of the United States and Canada stretches from cold Arctic
wastelands in the far north to warm, sunny vacation areas near the Tropic of
Cancer. This vast territory is diverse in both climate and vegetation. Most people in
the United States and Canada avoid the extremes of tropical and Arctic climates.
The climate areas of the USA and Canada are: the Far North, the Pacific
Coast, the Great Plains, the East, the West, and the Tropical Areas.
a. The Far North:
Tundra and subarctic climates are found in the northern
parts of Alaska and Canada. Winters are long and cold, while summers are
brief and cool. The extremely cold tundra prevents the growth of trees and
most plants. In the subarctic region farther south, dense forests of evergreen
trees are found.
b. The Pacific Coast: This region is affected by moist ocean winds. The area
from southern Alaska to northern California has a marine west coast climate
of year-round mild temperatures and abundant rainfall. It is very common to
Done by: Mrs. Karen Rivera
7th Grade
see evergreen forests, ferns, and mosses. By contrast, southern California
has a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers, and mild wet winters.
c. The West:
The inland West has a desert climate of hot summers and
mild winters. Hot, dry air gets trapped between the Pacific ranges and the
Rockies. As a result, the inland West receives little rainfall. Droughts are
long periods without rainfall. This droughts cause farmers to lose their crops
and animals.
d. The Great Plains: This area benefits from moisture-bearing winds from the
Gulf of Mexico and from the Arctic. As a result, much of this area has a
humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters, and hot, humid
summers.
e. The East:
This area has humid climate regions that receive plenty of
year-round precipitation, in other words, it has a continental climate.
Wetlands and swamps cover some of the southeast. Wetlands are areas
where water covers the soil. Swamps are wetlands that are forested
(bushes).
Wetland
Done by: Mrs. Karen Rivera
7th Grade
Swamp
f. Tropical Areas: Tropical climates are found in two areas of the United
States: Southern Florida and Hawaii. The Southern Florida has a tropical
dry climate. Temperatures are hot in summers and warm in winters. Rainfall
occurs mainly during the summer. Hawaii has year-round temperatures that
average above 70ᴼF. Rainfall supports tropical rain forests.
Questionnaire
1. Where does the region of the USA and Canada stretch to?
2. Write the regions of USA and Canada?
3. Where are the Tundra and Subarctic climates found?
4. How are the winters and summers in this area?
5. What affects the Pacific Coast?
6. How is the climate of the Southern California?
7. How is the climate in the West?
8. What are droughts?
9. What does the Great Plains benefit from?
10. How is the climate in the Great Plains?
11. How is the climate of the eastern United States?
12. What are wetlands and swamps?
13. Where do we find tropical climates in the USA?
14. What does the rainfall support?