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Chapter 3
Climate & Vegetation
Seasons
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Earth is titled at a 23.5 degree angle in relation
to the sun.
Earth’s tilt and revolution cause the sun to stay
on certain parts of the earth for more hours at
certain times of the year.
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Tropic of Cancer- Line of latitude that marks
the farthest point north that the sun’s rays shine
directly overhead at noon.
Tropic of Capricorn- Line of latitude that
marks the farthest point south that the sun’s
rays shine directly overhead at noon.
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Solstice- either of two times of year when the
sun’s rays shine directly overhead at noon at
the furthest points north or south, marking the
beginning of summer and winter. (SummerJune 21st or 22nd & Winter- December 22nd or
23rd)
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Equinox- each of the two days in a year on
which day and night are equal in length,
marking the beginning of spring and autumn.
(Spring- March 21st & Autumn- September
23rd)
Weather & Climate
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Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at
a particular location and time.
Climate is the term for weather conditions at a
particular location over a long period of time.
Precipitation
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Depends on the amount of water vapor in the
air and the movement of that air.
Types- Rain, sleet, snow & hail.
Weather Extremes
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Hurricanes- also known as typhoons in Asia,
are storms that form over warm, tropical ocean
waters.
Other names throughout the world- tropical
cyclones, willy-willies (Australia) baguios
(Philippines), and chubascos (Mexico).
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Category/Wind Speed
1 74-95 mph
2 96-110 mph
3 111-130 mph
4 131-155 mph
5 156+ mph
Tornadoes
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Tornado- powerful funnel-shaped column of
spiraling air. (Twisters)
Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes can form quickly.
Tornado Scale
Category
Wind Speeds(MPH)
Damage
F-0
40-72
Chimney damage,
tree branches broken
F-1
73-112
Mobile homes
overturned
F-2
113-157
F-3
158-206
Mobile home
demolished
Cars thrown
F-4
207-260
Well-constructed
walls leveled
F-5
261-318
Homes lifted off
of foundations/
cars thrown 100
yards
Blizzard
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Heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour
making it very difficult to see.
1921 Silver Lake, Colorado- 76 inches of snow fell in 24
hours.
1959 Mt. Shasta, California- 6 day snow storm dumped nearly
16 feet of snow.
Drought
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Drought- Long period of time without any rain
or very little precipitation.
Droughts can cause extreme crop failure and
reduced levels in water storage facilities.
Floods
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Flood- a time when water spreads over land
not normally covered with water.
1993- A flood in Mississippi and Missouri
caused $15 million dollars in damage and
claimed the lives of 50 people. Over 150 rivers
and tributaries were involved.
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Convection is the transfer of heat in the
atmosphere by upward motion of the air.
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El Nino- a weather pattern created by the
warming of the waters off the west coast
of South America, which pushes warm
water and heavy rains toward the
Americas and produces drought conditions
in Australia and Asia.
La Nina is the complete opposite.
Ecosystem
An independent community of plants and
animals.
The ecosystem of a region is referred to as
a biome. (Examples- forest, grassland,
desert & tundra).
Chapter 3 Section 3
Climate Regions
Tropical Wet
Tropical Wet & Dry
Desert
Semiarid
Mediterranean
Humid Subtropical
Marine West Coast
Humid Continental
Subartic
Tundra
Ice Cap
Highlands