1. Section 2 – Climate & Vegetation
Chapter 6
Section 2 – Climate & Vegetation

2. Climate Zones
Climate is not day to day, it is something that is measured over long periods of time
Location north or south of the equator, closeness to big bodies of water and elevation affect climates
Most of Canada lies north of 40°N and is therefore cold
Areas along the coast will be more temperate, meaning they will not have extreme hot or cold. Why?
Conversely areas that are inland will be very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. Why?

3. Mountain Effects
The Chinook effect is what happens when winds off of the ocean hit mountains and the air rises making it colder so all of the precipitation ends up on the western side of mountains.
The eastern or inland side is then generally dry and referred to as a rain shadow

4. Climates of the United States
Alaska and Hawaii are extremes because of their location in respect to the Equator
Areas by the Pacific Ocean will be moderate because of the influence of the ocean and have the same Chinook effect as in Canada
The middle part of America has summers that are short and warm and long cold winters
The South has long hot summers and short mild winters
Atlantic coastal areas can experience extremely violent weather

5. Natural Vegetation Zones
Northern tundra is far north and is a cold dry region where snow covers the ground more than half of the year
Grasslands are places that receive enough moisture to support grasses, but not enough for trees. This is pretty much the middle parts of America and Canada
Today many of the grasses are gone and this is where corn, soybeans and wheat are grown. Cattle raising takes place in areas to dry to grow crops
TUNDRA

6. Vegetation Zones Continued
Desert Scrub is a type of vegetation that receives very little rain because of the rain shadow and has discouraged people from living or traveling through for many years. This area includes the Great Basin and much of the desert southwest
Forests cover almost 1/3 of the U.S. and ½ of Canada. Coniferous trees dominate the Pacific Coast and the Rocky Mountains. Mixed forests of conifers and deciduous trees lie from the Great Lakes into SE Canada and the SE areas of America