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Physical Geography

Physical Geography. Climate vs. Weather. What is Climate? Climate is the condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time. Or… The general pattern of weather of a region. Climate vs. Weather. Three characteristics of climate are : Temperature Precipitation- rain, snow or hail/sleet

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Physical Geography

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  1. Physical Geography

  2. Climate vs. Weather • What is Climate? • Climate is the condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time. • Or… The general pattern of weather of a region

  3. Climate vs. Weather • Three characteristics of climate are: • Temperature • Precipitation- rain, snow or hail/sleet • Seasons

  4. Climate vs. Weather • Four factors or elements that affect climate are: • Latitude- how far away from the equator • Wind Currents • Proximity to Water- how close to a large body of water • Elevation- how high above sea level

  5. Climate vs. Weather • Wind Currents • Wind and ocean currents distribute the sun’s heat through convection, the transfer of heat in the atmosphere through upward motion of the air.

  6. Climate vs. Weather • Proximity to Water • Areas near the ocean have a milder winter and a cooler summer. • Ocean currents are like rivers in the ocean. Warm water flows away from the equator and cold water flows toward the equator.

  7. Climate vs. Weather • Elevation • Elevation influences temperature. As you go up in elevation the temperature becomes colder because the atmosphere is thinner. Areas with very high elevations can have vegetation similar to the arctic.

  8. Climate vs. Weather Climate Zones • Low Latitudes - Tropical Wet and Tropical Wet and Dry. • Middle Latitudes - Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Humid Continental, Marine West Coast. • High Latitudes - Subarctic, Tundra, Icecap • Varies - Semiarid, Arid, Highland

  9. Climate vs. Weather

  10. Climate vs. Weather • Rain Shadow • A result of mountains (elevation) • One side of a mountain gets all of the rain while the other side does not (usually a desert)

  11. Unique Weather • Monsoons • Monsoons are wind patterns in South and Southeast Asia. • Summer Monsoon - The wind blows from the southwest, bringing moist ocean air that causes rain. • Winter Monsoon - The wind blows from the northeast, bringing dry air.

  12. How Does the Environment Impact People? • The climate impacts where people can live. People have a difficult time living in places where… • The climate is too hot • The climate is too cold • There is no water

  13. Population density map of Africa

  14. Population density map of Finland

  15. Population density map of China

  16. How Does the Environment Impact People? • Housing • People build housing based on available materials

  17. How Does the Environment Impact People? • Agriculture • Arable land- land that is suitable for growing crops • Climate- certain crops will only grow in certain climates • Topography- its easier to grow crops on flat land than on a mountain side

  18. How do people impact the environment? • Water • Pollution • Irrigation- can cause shrinkage of water reservoirs or lakes • Can also cause crops to be grown in areas they would not normally • Dams- decrease the flow of water down rivers and flood areas not prone to flooding • Can also keep flooding from happening which prevents fertile soil from being deposited on farmland (Egypt, Nile River and Aswan High Dam

  19. The Aral Sea

  20. Hoover Dam

  21. How do people impact the environment? • Deforestation- Cutting down forest quicker than trees can regrow (not replanting) • Desertification- Land near a desert becoming a part of the desert itself • Caused by overgrazing, poor irrigation procedures and over- farming

  22. How do people impact the environment? • Air Pollution- releasing burnt fossil fuel into the air • Can cause acid rain • Water Pollution • Dumping chemicals into water ways • Nuclear Pollution • Leaked radiation • Usually from a nuclear reactor accident • Chernobyl

  23. How do people use technology to adapt to their environment? • Air Conditioning • Became widely used in mid 1900s • Has allowed people to live in areas that would normally be “too hot” • Allowed major US cities to develop such as, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Houston

  24. How do people use technology to adapt to their environment? • Agriculture • Large equipment has allowed a larger area to be farmed by less workers • Chemical fertilizers help to grow larger crops

  25. How do people use technology to adapt to their environment? • Transportation • Allowed for the creation of suburbs • Has caused changes to the physical environment • Draining of the everglades and other swamp land

  26. How do people use technology to adapt to their environment? • Energy Use • Different types of energy production allows people to be able to have power in more areas

  27. Possible Short-Answer Questions • What are some ways that technology has helped people to live in harsher environments? • How can the environment of a region impact people? • How have people impacted the environment? • What is the different between climate and weather • What impact do Monsoons have on India?

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