H.O.T. Work January 5, 2011 1.) Which is closest to the equator? 85 N 76 E 24 S 1 W 50 N 38 W 2.) What is the relative location of Japan compared to China? 3.) What natural hazard often occurs in the middle of the United States?

H.O.T. Work January 7, 2011 1.) What happens to the seasons south of the equator? 2.) Where is the Tundra vegetation and climate region found? 3.) What climate region makes up most of Canada and Russia? Get ready for your Site and Situation quiz!

Climate and Vegetation Regions

Tropical Wet Precipitation: 80+ inches of rain year. Rains almost daily Temperature: 80+ degrees (year-round) Location: Near equator Vegetation Region: Tropical Rainforest

Vegetation Region – Tropical Rainforest Very tall trees Many species of trees Light rarely reaches ground Trees not deciduous

Tropical Wet and Dry Precipitation: Rainy in summer, dry winter (less than 80 in a year) Temperature: cooler dry season, warmer wet season Location: Surrounds tropical wet Vegetation Region: Savanna (tropical grassland)

Vegetation Region – Savanna Flat regions – grassy plains Few trees

Arid (Desert) Precipitation: Less than 10 in. a year Temperature: Can be hot or cold Location – mid latitudes Vegetation Region: Desert (Arid)

Vegetation Region – Desert (Arid) Plants that conserve water and withstand heat Cacti, sagebrush, other shrubs

Semiarid Precipitation: About 16 in. rain per year Temperature: Summers are hot, winters are mild or cold Location: zones around deserts, interiors of continents Vegetation Region: Steppe (Temperate Grassland)

Vegetation Region – Steppe Few Trees Grasslands Highly fertile soil Major source of agriculture

Mediterranean Precipitation: Dry in summer, rainy in winter Temperature: cool winters, hot summers Location: Around Mediterranean Sea and west coast U.S. Vegetation Region: Mediterranean Shrub

Vegetation Region – Mediterranean Low shrubs Small trees Grapes, olives Fertile soil

Highland Precipitation: Depends on altitude Temperature: depends on altitude Location: mountainous areas Vegetation Region: Highland (varies with altitude)

Vegetation Region – Highland Vegetation changes as you get higher (see diagram)

Humid Continental Precipitation: Wet and dry Temperature: Four different seasons (heat depends on Latitude) Location: Mid-latitudes and interiors of continents Vegetation Region: Mid-latitude forests and Steppe

Vegetation Region: Mid-Latitude Forests Sufficient rainfall Deciduous and Coniferous trees Productive agriculture land.

Marine West Coast Precipitation: Rain evenly distributed throughout the year. Damp and foggy Temperature: Moderate temperatures year round Location: West coasts of mid-latitude continents (Oregon, Washington, Great Britain) Vegetation regions: Mid-latitude (mixed forests) Some Coniferous forests

Humid Subtropical Precipitation: moderate amounts year-round. Prone to hurricanes Temperature: humid and hot (long summers, shorter mild winters) Location: East coast of continents, mid-latitudes (S.E. U.S. and China) Vegetation Regions: Mid-latitude forests, some tropical plants

Subarctic Precipitation: Snow most often Temperature: Huge variations, freezing 5-8 months a year, Summers short and cool winters very cold Location: N. Canada, N. Russia Vegetation Region: Taiga (Coniferous Forests)

Vegetation Region: Taiga (Coniferous Forests) Huge coniferous forests

Tundra Precipitation: Less than 15 in. a year Temperature: Almost always frozen, short summers about 40 degrees. Permafrost: permanently frozen ground Location: N. Hemisphere (surrounding Arctic Circle) Vegetation Region: Tundra

Vegetation Region: Tundra Flat, treeless Plants that hug the ground (moss, lichen) Permafrost Marshy

Icecap Precipitation: snow and ice (rarely snows though) Temperature: always below freezing Location: Polar regions Vegetation: Ice-cap (ice covered ground)