WORLD GEOGRAPHY TODAY

 Red Flag Questions

Pages 50-57

CHAPTER 3: WEATHER AND CLIMATE

SECTION 3: Climate and Vegetation Patterns

By the end of this section, you will be able to answer these questions:

TROPICAL CLIMATES

  • What is and ecosystem and what does it include?
  • Where are the world’s most diverse ecosystems found?

Tropical Humid Climate

  • Where is the tropical humid climate found?
  • Why does the tropical humid climate see daily thunderstorms and heavy rainfall?
  • monsoon
  • Describe the conditions in a summer monsoon and a winter monsoon.
  • What is unique about the tropical rainforests?

Tropical Wet and Dry Climate

  • What is another name for the tropical wet and dry climate?
  • What are summers like in the tropical wet and dry climates? Winters?
  • Savannas

DRY CLIMATES

  • arid

Arid Climate

  • Where are most arid region climates found?
  • What causes the dryness?
  • Where might an arid climate be found in relation to a mountain range?
  • What are the temperatures like in arid regions?
  • What are plants and animals like in this area?

Semiarid Climate

  • The semiarid climate is a transition between what two climates?
  • What makes up most of the plant life in this region?

MIDDLE-LATITUDE CLIMATES

Mediterranean Climate

  • Where might you find the Mediterranean climate?
  • What are summers and winters like in the Mediterranean climates?
  • What is the plant life like in this climate?

Humid Subtropical Climate

  • Where might you find the humid subtropical climate?
  • What are the summers and winters like in the humid subtropical climate?
  • What is the natural plant life?
  • deciduous forests
  • coniferous forests

Marine West Coast Climate

  • What heavily influences the marine west coast climate?
  • Where might you find the marine west coast climate?
  • What are temperatures like all year round?
  • What are winters and summers like?
  • Describe some of the effects of a typhoon?
  • What is another name for the dense coniferous forests that grow in this climate?

Humid Continental Climate

  • Where might you find the humid continental climate?
  • How many distinct seasons does the humid continental climate experience?

HIGH-LATITUDE AND HIGHLAND CLIMATES

Subarctic Climate

  • Where might you find the subarctic climate? Where is the exception?
  • What are the summers and winters like in this climate? Temperatures?
  • What plant life is found in this climate?
  • What is another name for the northern forests?

Tundra Climate

  • What are winters and summers like in this climate?
  • permafrost
  • Why will you find swamps and bogs in this climate?
  • Describe tundra vegetation.

Ice Cap Climate

  • Where will you find the ice cap climate?
  • What is the plant life like? Marine life?

Highland Climate

  • Why do highland areas have varying climates?
  • What is the tree line?
  • What is plant and animal life like in this climate?