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Europe
Chapter 4
Physical Geography of Europe.
The Five Themes of Geography
Location,
Place, Human-
Environment Interaction,
Movement, and Region
The Bigger Picture
Section 1: Physical Features
BIG IDEA Geographic factors influence where
people settle. Europe has a variety of landforms
and plentiful natural resources that have attracted
a large population. Most people live on Europe’s
plains, where industry and agriculture flourish.
Such successes, however, have contributed to
environmental problems in the region.
Snowdrifts?
What is Pumice?
These snow like
mounds were
formed about 1,500
years ago during a
volcanic eruption on
the island of Lipari,
off the coast of
Sicily, in Italy. The
mounds are made
of pumice.
Landforms and
Waterways
Main Idea Europe’s
landforms and
waterways have
greatly influenced
where and how
Europeans live.
Eurasia
Waterways
Europe’s long coastline is framed by the
Atlantic and by several seas. These include
the Baltic, North, Mediterranean, and Black
Seas. Most land in Europe lies within 300
miles (483 km) of a coast. Only a few countries
are landlocked, meaning they do not
border an ocean or a sea. Relatively long
rivers, however, do give these
Plains
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXpVhTZg0U
Plains
Europe’s major landform is the Northern
European Plain. This large lowland
area stretches like a rumpled blanket across
the northern half of mainland Europe.
Plains Cont.
The Northern European Plain also has
important energy and mineral resources.
Deposits of coal, iron ore, and other
minerals
lie underground. These resources aided
Europe’s industrial growth.
Mountains and Highlands
Mountains and Highlands
• Highlands mark the northern border of the
Northern European Plain. Steeper mountains lie
south of the plain. Europe’s highest mountain
ranges form the Alpine Mountain System, which
stretches from Spain to the Balkan Peninsula.
The system takes its name from the Alps of
south-central Europe. It also includes the
Pyrenees, which lie between France and Spain,
and the Carpathians, in east-central Europe.The
region’s highest peak is Mont Blanc.
Like some of Europe’s other landforms,
mountains have helped isolate certain
countries and peoples. Switzerland, for
example, is located high in the Alps.
While European wars have raged around
it, the country has remained free from
conflict and invasion for many centuries.
Europe’s mountains have never
completely blocked movement though.
Passes, or low areas between mountains,
allow the movement of people and goods.
Waterways
Many European rivers are
navigable, or wide and deep
enough for ships to use.
People and goods can sail
easily from inland areas to the
open sea and, from there,
around the world. The Danube
and the Rhine, two of
Europe’s longest rivers, are
important for transporting
goods. Canals link these
rivers, further improving
Europe’s water transportation
network.
Waterways
Rivers carry rich soil downstream,
creating productive farmland along
their banks and at their mouths. For
this reason, river valleys have long
been home to large numbers of
people. Today, fast-flowing rivers are
also used to generate electricity to
support these large populations.
Europe’s Resources
Main Idea Europe has valuable
resources that strengthen its
economy.
Geography and You Think of the
products that you use every day.
What are these products made of? As
you read, think about how Europe’s
natural resources benefit people
around the world.
Energy Resources
Coal has been a major energy source in
Europe for many decades . By burning
coal, Europeans fueled the development
of modern industry in the 1800s. Today,
almost half of the world’s coal comes from
Europe. Coal mining provides jobs for
people from the United Kingdom in the
west to Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech
Republic in the east.
Other Natural Resources
European mines
produce about onethird of the world’s iron
ore, which is used in
making steel.
Other Natural Resources
Forests once covered a large part of
Europe. Long ago, however, people
cleared the land for farms and used
much of the wood for building and for
fuel. Today, only small pockets of
forest remain. Sweden and Finland
have the most forestland and produce
the most lumber.
Wind Farm in Spain
Environmental
Issues
Main Idea Europe’s
plentiful resources have
helped its economy, but
environmental problems
are a growing concern.
Geography and
You Do you recycle
at home and try to
use energy wisely?
As you read, see
how Europeans are
taking similar steps
to protect their
resources.
Environmental Issues
By taking advantage of its natural
resources, Europe has become an
economic powerhouse. The impact
on the environment, however, has
sometimes been harmful. For
instance, in deforested areas of
Southern Europe, tree roots no longer
hold the soil in place. Valuable topsoil
can be washed away.
Air Pollution and Acid Rain
• Air pollution has another serious effect.
When pollutant particles mix with
precipitation, acid rain falls to Earth. Acid
rain can make trees vulnerable to attack
from insects and disease.
• Acid rain falls on Europe’s waterways as
well as its forests. As acids build up in
lakes, rivers, and streams, fish and other
wildlife are poisoned and die.
Water Pollution
• Water pollution is another challenge for Europe.
Sewage, garbage, and industrial waste have all
been dumped into the region’s seas, lakes, and
rivers. As populations and tourism have
increased, the problem has worsened.
• Runoff is precipitation that flows over the
ground, often picking up pesticides and
fertilizers along the way.
• Runoff spilling into the Danube River, for
example, has killed much of its marine life.
What Can Europe do to Help its
Environment?
Many are working to prevent air pollution and
acid rain by limiting the amount of chemicals that
factories and cars can release into the air.
Europeans are also making their lakes and
rivers cleaner by treating waste and sewage. In
addition, some countries encourage farmers to
use less fertilizer to reduce damaging runoff.
Recycling is another strategy for protecting the
environment. Europeans now recycle more
paper, plastics, and glass than in the past. This
saves energy that would otherwise be needed to
produce these goods and cuts down on wastes.
Section 2 Climate Regions
• In the Côte d’Or (“Golden Hill”) region of
Burgundy, France. The region has been
producing wine since a. d. 900, and the
grape harvest is vital to the local economy.
Because of this, and because grapes are
highly sensitive to the climate, big changes
in temperature are always cause for
concern.
Wind and Water
• Main Idea Wind
patterns and
water currents
shape Europe’s
climate.
• Geography and
You Doesn’t a cool
breeze feel great
on a hot day?
Read to learn how
winds are helpful
to Europe too.
Look at the physical map of the
world
in the Reference Atlas.
• Because Europe is farther north than
the United States, you might expect
Europe’s climate to be colder than
ours. In fact, much of Europe enjoys a
milder climate. Why?
Westerlies
The North Atlantic Current carries warm
waters from the Gulf of Mexico toward
Europe. Winds from the west pass over
this water and carry more warmth to
Europe. These prevailing winds, known as
westerlies, are a major influence on
warming the European climate. Warm
winds from Africa contribute to the
high temperatures in southern Europe.
Climate Zones
Main Idea Europe has eight climate
zones, each with different vegetation.
Geography and You What is your ideal
climate? Chances are, you can find it in
Europe! Read to learn how Europe’s
climate varies from area to area.
Most of Europe falls into three main
climate zones
Marine west coast, humid continental, and
Mediterranean.
Figure 2 also shows five other climate
zones that appear in smaller areas—
subarctic, tundra, highland, steppe, and
humid subtropical.
Europe: Climate Zones Figure 2
Marine West Coast
This climate has two features, one of which
is mild temperatures. The North Atlantic
Current carries so much warmth that
southern Iceland has mild temperatures,
even though it is near the Arctic Circle.
Because of the mild temperatures, this
climate zone has surprisingly long growing
seasons.
Marine West Coast
The second feature of the marine west coast
climate, besides mild temperatures, is
abundant precipitation. This typically falls
in autumn and early winter. Although the
zone as a whole gets plenty of rain, certain
mountainous areas stay dry because of
the rain shadow effect.
Temperatures Stay Mild
Although temperatures stay mild, differences
do exist across the region. In the north,
summers are shorter and cooler. Also, the
farther away you get from water, the wider
the range of temperatures will be. besides
mild temperatures, is abundant
precipitation.
Deciduous Trees
• Forests thrive in
much of Europe’s
marine west coast
climate zone.
Some forests
consist of
deciduous trees,
which lose their
leaves in the fall.
Coniferous trees
Coniferous trees,
also called
evergreens, grow in
cooler areas of the
marine west coast
climate zone.
Humid Continental
Eastern Europe and some areas of northern
Europe have a humid continental climate.
Cool, dry winds from the Arctic and Asia
give this zone cooler summers and colder
winters than the marine west coast zone.
The city of Minsk in Belarus does not get
much warmer than 70°F (21°C) in July. By
January, however, you would definitely
need a warm jacket—the high temperature
averages only 22°F (–6°C)!
Mediterranean
Europe’s third major climate zone, the
Mediterranean zone, includes much of
southern Europe. With average high
temperatures in July ranging from 83°F to
98°F (28°C to 37°C), Mediterranean summers
are hot. They are also very dry. Many
Mediterranean areas receive just a trace of
rainfall during the summer.
Winters in the Mediterranean zone
With temperatures in the 50s Fahrenheit
(low teens Celsius), nobody worries about
snow. Rainfall, however, averages 3 to 4
inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) per month, so an
umbrella comes in handy.
Mountains Of Southern Europe
• The Pyrenees and Alps block chilly
northern winds from reaching Spain and
Italy. Some mountains also create rain
shadows. Winds coming over the
mountains from the west bring more rain
to the western slopes. The eastern side
stays drier. The effect is dramatic in Spain,
where the northwest region is cool, wet,
and green. Inland Spain, on the other
hand, is hot, dry, and brown.
Southern France
• The lack of a mountain barrier allows a
cold, dry wind to blow in from the north.
This wind, the mistral (MIHS∙truhl), occurs
in winter and spring. It also creates waves,
making southern France a popular site for
windsurfing. Countries in the
Mediterranean climate zone are also
affected by hot, dry winds from Africa to
the south. In Italy, these winds are called
siroccos (suh∙RAH∙kohs).
The Mediterranean Zone’s Low
Rainfall
• Plants that grow there must be drought
resistant. Vegetation includes low-lying
shrubs and grasses, as well as the olive
trees and grapevines that the region is
known for. Forests are rare, and stands of
trees appear only on rainy mountainsides
or along rivers.
Subarctic and Tundra
• Farther north, Europe has two zones of extreme
cold. The subarctic zone covers parts of Norway,
Sweden, and Finland. Evergreens grow in this
region at low altitudes. The tundra zone is found
in the northern reaches of these countries and in
Iceland. The tundra is an area of vast treeless
plains near the North Pole. With cool summers
that reach only about 40°F (4°C) and frigid
winter temperatures that plunge as low as –25°F
(–32°C), only low shrubs and mosses can grow
in this region. What effect does the Earth’s tilt
have on these regions?
Highland
The highland zone is
found in the higher
altitudes of the Alps
and Carpathians
where the climate is
generally cool to
cold.
Other Climate Zones
1. Europe’s last two climate zones cover a
relatively small part of the region. The steppe
zone includes the southern part of Ukraine.
Steppes are dry, treeless grasslands, much
like prairies but with shorter grass. Here the
climate is not dry enough to be classified as
desert, but not wet enough for forests to
flourish.
2. A small sliver of land north of the Adriatic Sea
falls into the humid subtropical zone. This zone
has hot, wet summers and mild, wet winters.
Climate Change
It’s Getting Hot in Here!
• Most scientists agree that the world’s climate is
growing warmer. Average temperatures have
been inching upward for several decades.
Measurements and photos show that glaciers
are steadily eroding. In 2003 western Europe
suffered its worst heat wave since the Middle
Ages.
• What are Some of the effects of a warming
climate?
Kyoto Treaty
• European officials are taking action. They
are trying to slow global warming by
encouraging changes in energy use. Most
European governments have signed the
Kyoto Treaty. This is an international
agreement to limit the output of
greenhouse gases, but its terms are not
yet fully in effect.
Visual Summary
Landforms
● The Northern European Plain is a rich
farming region and has a high population
density.
● Mountains separate much of northern and
southern Europe.
● Uplands regions are found in northwest
and central Europe and in Spain.
Visual Summary
European Resources
● Europe’s energy resources include coal,
petroleum, natural gas, and hydroelectric
and wind power.
● In some areas, good soil promotes
farming and dairy farming.
● Fishing is important to coastal Europe.
Visual Summary
Waterways
● Waterways have had a major impact on
Europe’s population and ways of life.
● Rivers provide transportation, good soil for
farming, and hydroelectric power.
Visual Summary
Climate Regions
● Europe’s nearness to water and its wind
patterns greatly affect its climates.
● Europe has eight main climate zones :
marine west coast, humid continental,
Mediterranean, subarctic, tundra,
highland, steppe, and humid subtropical.
● Europeans are concerned about the
negative effects of global warming.
Visual Summary
Environmental Issues
● The European environment has been
damaged by deforestation, pollution, and
acid rain.
● Europeans are working to protect and
improve their environment through
recycling and limiting forms of chemical
pollution.
The
End