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California’s Place in the World Or “Why our state has it so good” Place on the Globe • Northern Hemisphere, north of 30 degrees latitude – not “tropical.” http://www.ucar.edu/news/features/hurricanes/htc_desc_files/worldmap.jpg Effect of the Wind • Westerly Winds • Bring moisture from the pacific http://loneswimmer.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/prevailing-winds-by-latitude.png Our Landforms Affect the Weather • Warm, moist Pacific air -> rain near the coast, deserts beyond the mountains • Local landforms affect wind direction, too California’s Place in the Hydrosphere • The California Current is cold, goes South from Alaska • Cools the air from the Pacific • Keeps our climate moderate year-round near the coast (70°F ± 15°F) El Niño / La Niña El Niño / La Niña • Southern Pacific is Warmer: – El Niño – Drier, warmer winter • Southern Pacific is Cooler: – La Niña – Wetter, colder winter California’s Place in the Geosphere • Three Continental Plates meet – North American Plate – Pacific Plate – Juan de Fuca Plate California’s Place in the Geosphere • Mountains created by the plates colliding– Coastal Ranges California’s Place in the Geosphere • Cascade Mountains – Subduction Zone – Volcanic – Mount Shasta – Mount Lassen Mount Shasta Mount Shasta Mount Lassen • Last Eruption 1916 Mount Lassen California’s Place in the Geosphere • Sierra Nevada Mountains • Batholiths and Uplift • Highest Peak in Continental USA – Mount Whitney California’s Place in the Geosphere • Mountains lead to Valleys • Death Valley – Lowest point in the continental USA – Badwater Basin California’s Resources • Central Valley – one of the world's most productive agricultural regions – largest patch of Class 1 soil in the world – 230 crops – 1% of Farmland in USA – 8% of crops California’s Resources • Water – Limited resource – Aquaducts from Northern CA – imported water from Colorado River – Desalinization planned California’s Resources • Fisheries and Aquaculture – 1200 miles of coastline – Millions of Dollars each year California’s Resources Minerals: • Gold • Silver • Cement • Sand and gravel • Much More! California’s Resources • Ecosystems – Very Diverse: mountains, valleys, temperate rainforest, desert, etc. San Diego County Ecosystems • Most diversity in the entire USA San Diego County Ecosystems • 200 imperiled plants and animals • More than in any other county in the nation Lots to Offer Visitors • California is the #1 place for travelers in the USA to visit – Both foreign and domestic tourists – $ 96 Billion dollar industry – A million Jobs – Why? California’s scenery, climate, wildlife, landscape – it’s not just about the Theme Parks!