Cultural

Geography
Thursday, September 21st
 Warm Up
The Answer Is

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
 Climates
Climate - The typical weather of a region
over time.
Weather atmospheric conditions of a
location at any given time.
 Climates
There are 5 broad categories of climate:
Tropical Rainy
Dry
Cold
Moderate
Varied Highlands
 Tropical Rainy
Occurs in the tropics.
Heavy rainfall (average of 10 inches per
month)
Trees are the main vegetation.
 Dry
Occurs in the tropics.
Little rainfall (deserts).
Can occur at any latitude, hot or cold.
Semiarid regions receive more rainfall
and support grasses, such as in plains.
 Cold
Areas too cold to support most
vegetation.
Ice caps never melt, no vegetation
Polar regions small, hardy plants
Subpolar regions support small trees
and some vegetation.
 Moderate
Temperate zone.
Moderate rainfall and temperatures.
Humid subtropics Lands just above the
tropics, rich farmland.
Humid Continental sufficient but
irregular rainfall, colder winters.
 Moderate
Mediterranean little water, colder
temperatures.
Marine ocean currents bring warm,
humid air and regular rain.
 Varied Highland
In the mountains, air is thinner and
holds less thermal energy.
Lapse rate for every 1,000 ft. increase
in elevation, the temperature drops 3.5
 Earths Vegetation
Vegetation: the type of plants that grows
in each region depending on the climate.

Depends on soil, mountains, rivers,

native animals, population, etc.
 Biome
Biome any large region where distinct
populations of plants and animals are
found living together.
Influences how people make their living,
what they eat and how culture develops.
 Biomes
3 basic biomes:
Forests
Grasslands
wastelands
 Forests
Wherever trees are the
predominate plants
Tropical Rain Forest
broad leaves,
widespread branches
to protect the forest
floor.
Forests
Wherever trees are
the predominate
plants
Shrub Forest
drier, shorter trees
that are widely
scattered. Also
called woodlands.
 Forests
Coniferous Forest
trees that produce
their seeds in a
cone. Found in
colder climates
where trees hold on
to moisture. Also
known as
evergreens.
Forests
Deciduous Forest
trees that lose their
leaves every year.
Wood provided by
these trees is used
for construction,
ships, furniture, etc.
 Grasslands
Found in areas
where rainfall isnt
sufficient to
support forests.
Grass is
predominate with a
few, widespread
trees.
 Grasslands
Tropical Grasslands wide, open areas with
significant growth in the rainy season and dry,
fire season. Also known as savannah.
 Grasslands
Temperate Grasslands found in temperate
areas with fertile soil and hard ground. Also
known as steppes or prairies.
 Wastelands
Barren most of the year because of lack of
precipitation.
Two types:
Desert
tundra
 Desert
2 kinds of plants:
Cacti store water in their stems and leaves
Others bloom, produce seeds and die
quickly after each rain.

Animals can live and thrive in the desert

 Tundra
Cold regions near the poles. Limited
vegetation.
Typically short growing season when only
the top layer of soil thaws.
Permafrost - soil that stays frozen year-
round.