Download Climate SOL Review .2 What are the main characteristics of climate

Climate SOL Review .2
1. What are the main characteristics of climate? (In other words, how do we differentiate
between climates.)
Temperature, precipitation, seasons (hot/cold, wet/dry)
2. What are the main factors that influence climate?
Latitude, wind, elevation, proximity to water, ocean currents
3. List the main climate regions, brief description, and vegetation region.
Low latitudes (tropics): hot, wet – rainforest & tropical savanna
Middle latitudes: distinct seasons, several sub-climates (Marine West Coast, Mediterranean, Humidsubtropical, humid-continental) – mixed forests
High Latitudes: cold, snow/ice, some rain – subarctic, tundra, icecap – coniferous forests (Taiga)
Highland: climate depends on elevation
Dry/Arid: mostly hot & dry, desert & steppe found in various latitudes – scrub waste vegetation &
cacti
4. What are the physical & ecological processes that shape the earth’s surface?
Earthquakes, flooding, volcanoes, erosion, deposition
5. Describe how the following are examples of humans affecting or controlling water resources:
Aral Sea, Aswan High Dam, Canals, Reservoirs
Aral Sea – USSR diverted rivers from Aral Sea for cotton & dried up the sea which has created
climate change (drier) in the region.
Aswan High Dam – Egypt built it on Nile river displacing many, prevents flooding but also natural
alluvial soil from reaching the valley, hydroelectricity
Canals – built to link rivers, short cuts for trade, sometimes used for irrigation purposes
Reservoirs – built to contain fresh water for large populated areas, may also be used for irrigation
6.
Describe each of the following ways humans influence the landscape to adapt to the
environment and a location with each: terracing, polders, deforestation, desertification
Terracing – creating steps in mountainous areas for farmland & preventing water runoff & erosion
(Andes mts, China, Southeast Asia)
Polders – building dikes & canals to drain lowland areas & create land normally for grazing of sheep
or cattle (Netherlands)
Deforestation – clear cutting of forests for logging profit but also using slash & burn techniques for
farmland (Amazon, Nepal)
Desertification – increasing size of desert, normally caused by overgrazing of steppe regions (Africa –
Sahel Steppe)
7.
Describe ways in which humans have negatively impacted the environment (provide
examples).
Acid rain created by air pollution from industries (forests of Germany, Scandinavia, Eastern
US/Canada)
Oil pollution (BP gulf spill, Exxon Valdez in Alaska)
Nuclear contamination (Chernobyl)
Air, Water, Waste pollution in Mexico City b/c of overcrowding
8.
How has technology aided humans in adapting & modifying the environment?
Fertilizers & machines for agriculture, burning fossil fuels to nuclear & wind energy, better
transportation b/c of roads, bridges, mass transit systems, Cars & Planes led to suburbs, airport
expansion, parking lots new occupations
9. How does the environment & climate impact human?
Settlement patterns (where we decide to live), housing materials (what we build our houses out of),
agricultural activity (what we decide to grow), recreation (what we do for fun/leisure),
transportation patterns (where we can build roads, bridges, railroads, airports), clothing
10. Describe each of the following types of weather phenomena (how are they created & where
are they most likely to occur): monsoons, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes
Monsoons – winds that bring a lot of rain to South & Southeast Asia (India, Vietnam, Laos)
Typhoons/Hurricanes – storms beginning in tropics (warm water) Typhoons – Pacific, Hurricanes –
Atlantic
Tornadoes – violent storm clouds caused by rush of cold & warm air colliding, most prevalent in US
(Tornado Alley)
Climate SOL Review .2
1. What are the main characteristics of climate? (In other words, how do we differentiate
between climates.)
2. What are the main factors that influence climate?
3. List the main climate regions, brief description, and vegetation region.
Low latitudes (tropics):
Middle latitudes:
High Latitudes:
Highland: climate depends on elevation
Dry/Arid:
4. What are the physical & ecological processes that shape the earth’s surface?
5. Describe how the following are examples of humans affecting or controlling water resources:
Aral Sea, Aswan High Dam, Canals, Reservoirs
6. Describe each of the following ways humans influence the landscape to adapt to the
environment and a location with each: terracing, polders, deforestation, desertification
7. Describe ways in which humans have negatively impacted the environment (provide
examples).
8. How has technology aided humans in adapting & modifying the environment?
9. How does the environment & climate impact human?
10. Describe each of the following types of weather phenomena (how are they created & where
are they most likely to occur): monsoons, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes