1. Environmental Diversity, resources, hazards of Latin America
Subtitle

2. Physiography

3. Notice altitudinal differences In highlands
Notice altitudinal differences In highlands. Andes Mountain chain Patagonian Highlands Brazilian Highlands Guyana Highlands Central Lowlands

4. Andes Volcanic chain of mountains; many active
The only mountains that are taller than the Andes are the Himalaya Mountains and their adjacent ranges, including the Hindu Kush. The average elevation in the Andes is about 13,000 feet ; highest elevation in the Andes is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, which is 22,841 feet (highest peak in Rockies is 14,000 ft)
Volcanic chain of mountains; many active

5. subduction
Earth’s crust us divided into large plates that move slowly. Plates are enormous slabs of rock. When they are forced to move against one another, earthquakes are generated. When the plates are forced to sink beneath continents, they go to depths where the internal temperature is high and the plates melt. The molten rock then comes up to the surface in volcanoes.
Andes is volcanic mountain cahin caused by subduction

6. Altitudinal zonation
Temperature drops 3.5 degrees (F) for every 1000 ft gain in elevation
In each elevation zone,
Climate, vegetation, agriculture, lifestyles vary.

7. Latitudinal differences for tierra caliente

9. Tierra Nevada (permanent snow and ice)
No permanent human occupants
When some snow/ice melt, keeps water
reserves high
Tierra Helada – ft.
“páramo” in northern Andes; “puna” in Andes of Peru and Bolivia
Mining, herding of sheep, llamas, alpacas
Deer, vicuña, guanaco (wild)
Vicuna and guanaco are wild

10. Tierra Fria: 6000 – ft.
Lower elevations: maize and beans; higher elevations: tubers (potatoes) Sheep herding, wheat, barley, broad beans, alfalfa, fruit trees, dairy cows Major population centers: Bogotá, Colombia Quito, Ecuador La Paz, Bolivia Sucre, Bolivia Cuzco, Peru

12. Tierra Templada 2500 – 6000 ft.
Absence of frost (much of Central America is in this altitudinal zone)
Coffee and cacao
Sugar cane, citrus, cotton, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, maize

13. Tierra Caliente (sea level to 2500 ft.)
Year-round high temps
High diversity; disease and pest problems
Cacoa, manioc (cassava), sweet potatoes, peanuts

14. Climate change in andes
Slides
Glaciers (important source of meltwater for pastures and drinking) are receding
Tierra Helada is getting smaller
Used for llama; now grain is growing there
Rainfall patterns are changing
Potato Park

15. Biodiversity 7% global area; 50% species
Most species not yet identified

16. Carbon cycling Forests store carbon
Released into atmosphere when burned
15% total CO2 is from land-use change, predominantly deforestation.
If forests are not replaced, carbon release is permanent.
Tropical forests have capacity to absorb atmospheric CO2.
Do 20% global photosynthesis
Amazon uptake = 10% global emissions
Removing forests removes this uptake ability

17. Effects on hydrologic cycle:
Deforestation decreases precipitation in Amazon interior
Prevailing wind
forest
Atlantic
forest
Atlantic
evapotranspiration
evaporation
(interior)
Amazon basin
Atlantic
Ocean