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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.