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Chapter 2, Section 4 How Climate Affects Vegetation Climate-related differences Early fall - Minnesota Early fall - Georgia adaptations Adaptations are special features that enable plants to live in their particular climates. Cactus, for example, have waxy skins to hold in water and sharp spines for protection against animals. The five broad types of climate: Tropical Dry Temperate Marine Temperate Continental Polar vegetation Vegetation is the Earth’s natural plant life. Scientists estimate there are more than 315,000 species of plants in the world. Climate and vegetation Tropical climates Tropical climates include: Tropical Wet, with year-round rain and Tropical Wet and Dry, with one rainy season and one dry season. Dry climates We tend to think of dry climates as deserts – very, very hot. But dry climates can also be very, very cold! Temperate marine climates Temperate marine climates are found in the middle latitudes. They include Mediterranean, Marine West Coast, and Humid Subtropical. Rainfall is mild, there are seasons, and temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Marine West Coast climates Marine West Coast climates are mountainous and are cooled by ocean currents. They support more forests than grasslands. Humid Subtropical climates Of the three moderate climates, the Humid Subtropical has the most precipitation, heat, and humidity. humidity Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. “Air conditioning” doesn’t just cool down the air, it removes the excess water vapor! Mediterranean climates Mediterranean climates have rainy winters, while the summers are hot and dry. Plants here have leathery leaves which hold in moisture during the dry season. Temperate continental climates The humid continental climate has moderate to hot summers and can have moderate to cold winters. The subarctic continental climate has dry, cool summers and very cold winters. Deciduous and coniferous forests and tall grasslands are common. There are a few coniferous forests and grasslands are much shorter. Polar climates Polar climates are cold all year round. tundra The tundra is a region that is always cold and only certain low grasses and shrubs can grow. tropical rain forest A tropical rain forest is a region of dense, evergreen jungle with annual precipitation between 65 and 100 inches. canopy The canopy is the dense, leafy layer formed by the uppermost branches of the rain forest. Very little sunlight breaks through, and vines and ferns are abundant. Wettest Place – Western Hemisphere Mount Waialeale, on Kauai Island in Hawaii, averages 444 inches of rain per year. Its name translates as “Overflowing Water.” savanna A savanna is a park-like landscape of grasslands and scattered trees. desert Deserts are very hot and arid (extremely dry). desert scrub Desert scrub is an area of low vegetation that needs little water. Plants have wide, shallow roots and grow far apart. The Driest Place on Earth (non-polar) The Atacama Desert in northern Chile has had no significant rainfall since record-keeping began in 1570. It hasn’t rained at all since 1968 and it has been compared to the surface of Mars. deciduous Deciduous trees lose their leaves each year. The largest forests are found in the eastern United States, western Europe, and on the east coast of China. coniferous Coniferous trees have cones that produce seeds, and have needles instead of flat leaves. They are found in Canada, Scandinavia, and northern Russia. lichens and mosses Highlands Ice Cap and Pack Ice vertical climate Vertical climate occurs when the weather patterns are influenced by elevation, or the distance above sea level. The higher the elevation, the colder the climate. tierra caliente Tierra caliente, Spanish for “hot land,” is closest to sea level. Temperatures are very warm and vegetation includes bananas, sugarcane, and rice. tierra templada Tierra templada, “mild land,” is 3,000-8,000 feet above sea level. Temperatures are comfortable and vegetation includes coffee, wheat, and corn. tierra fria Tierra fria, “cold land,” is 8,000+ feet above sea level. Temperatures are very cold and vegetation includes potatoes.