Download CH 5 Sec 2- Climate and Vegetation of US and

CH 5 Sec 2- Climate and Vegetation of
US and Canada
• Objective- students will examine and identify the shared and different
climates of the US and Canada. Also, describe the extreme weather of the
US.
– What is the worst weather you have ever been in?
– How do you think weather effects how people live?
– Identify and explain the weather region (name and
location) of the area that you fell has the best
weather and worst weather
• Ie- Best- Humid Subtropical (The South) because it has
really hot, humid summers that makes you sweat even
when you are sitting in the shade
• Shared Climate b/t US and Canada• Why is Canada so cold?
– Colder Climates (location Alaska and Canada)
• Colder climate 1 Arctic-characteristic tundra (treeless) and
permafrost (frozen ground), temp- long brutal winters below
freezing (in summer rarely above 40*)
• Colder climate 2 Subarctic, Mountain Climates- temp warmer
summer, freezing winters, characteristic lots of rain, forests
• Moderate Climates
– Moderate Climate 1 Humid Continental- location Northeast, Northcentral, and Southern Canada (temp-hot, humid summers, cold
winters)
– Moderate Climate 2 Marine West Coast- location N.CA. to Alaska on
Pacific- characteristic climate is affected by Pacific Ocean currents
(stays a little warmer but still can freeze) and westerly winds off ocean
(cold, not freezing) teperature summers are moderately warm, winters
long, mild, rainy, foggy
• Milder Climates- below 40* latitude are much dryer, milder, warmer
climates
– Milder Climate 1- Humid Subtropical (location The South)temp
hot, humid, muggy summers (75*-90*), characteristic- mild
winters (can snow but rarely), rain often
– Milder Climate 2- Mediterranean (S. CA) characteristic dry,
sunny summers, mild, somewhat rainy winters (temp-50*-80*
year round)
• Dryer Climates
– Dryer Climate 1- Great Plains (characteristicSemi-arid-only 15 in. of rain, temps-hot
summers (90*+), cold winters (below freezing)
– Dryer Climate 2-Desert- SW US (CA, AZ) less
than 7 in rain, hot summers (100*+), warm
winters (70*)
• Tropical (2 places)
– Florida (southern) Hawaii- 70* year round, wet
(Waialeale has 500in of rain a yr)
• Extreme Weather
– Tornados- caused by warm air from Gulf of Mexico
mixing w cold air from Canada
• Tornado Alley- Oklahoma, N. Tx. And Ks
– Hurricanes- tropical storms w. winds of 90mph+ from
Atlantic Ocean
– Flooding- heavy rains, causes rivers to back up