America’s
Environmental Landscape
• What are the broad patterns of landforms,
climate, hydrology, natural vegetation, and
ecosystems of North America?
• How have these patterns helped shape
human settlement?
Topography
• Very large topographic regions
– Based on physical relief
– Regions are generally oriented north-south
• Tectonics & Volcanism
Glaciation
Hydrology
Topography: Soils
• Mixture of weathered rock, OM, water, air
• Shaped & altered by the physical environment
over time
• Described in terms of distinguishing properties…
–
–
–
–
–
color
texture
structure
ability to hold water and air
degree of acidity or alkalinity
Where soils are well developed vertical zonation may occur
producing distinct layers or soil horizons
Soils
Weather & Climate
• Geographic controls
– Latitude
– Land-water relationship
– Relief (elevation)
• Air pressure & orographic precipitation
– Air masses and wind systems
Latitude
• Temperature is a function of an area’s
exposure to the direct rays of the sun
• Maximized exposure at equator;
minimized at poles
• Yearly earth-sun relationship
(seasonality)
Land and Water Relationship
• Land tends to heat faster and cool faster
than water
• Annual temperature ranges
• Continentality
• Maritime influence
Relief
• Orographic Precipitation
– Higher elevations are cooler than lower
elevations
– Adiabatic cooling rate of rising air: 5.5º per 1,000’
• Temperature
Air
Masses
North American Air Masses
Air Masses and Wind
Systems
• North American wind patterns = distinct
climatic patterns
• North American Pattern
– Western US: topography is the key control
– East: latitude is significant in determining
variations in temperature and precipitation
Precipitation Regime: Winter
Precipitation Regime: Summer
Climate Zones
• Based on Köppen Classification
– Most widely used climate classification system
• Vegetation types are a direct response to
climate
• Regional boundaries show temperature
and precipitation associations with
vegetation limits
Permafrost
Regions
Biogeography
& Ecology
Bioregions
Ecosystems & Watersheds
Mineral Resources
• Metallic Minerals
• Fossil Fuels (oil, gas, and coal)
– Oil and Gas Fields
– Coal
• Major Fields
–Appalachian
–Eastern Interior
–Western Interior
–Western
FOSSIL FUELS
Quick Reading
• Ratzel, F., Wissler, C., & Sauer C. O.
Culture Area Research & Mapping.
– A brief overview of combining geotechniques
and regional geography
Discussion Questions
How could North American environmental
patterns affect human settlement?
Besides the ecoregion and biome concepts,
can you think of any other technique to
classify physical geography
characteristics?
Related Books
• Diamond, Jared. 1997. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The
Fates of Human Society. New York: W.W. Norton and
Company.
– Pulitzer Prize winning book by a converted geographer. It
discusses the human and environmental history of Earth in a
lively manner.
• Marsh, William M. 2005. Landscape Planning:
Environmental Implications, 4th ed. New York: John
Wiley & Sons.
– A guidebook of sorts, focusing on how different environmental
states affect land use planning in North America.
• Orme, Anthony R. ed. 2002. The Physical Geography of
North America. New York: Oxford University Press.
– 25 articles by well-respected authors detailing current
information about regional environments of North American
systems.
WebSources
• Physical Geography Introduction/Overview
http://www.physicalgeography.net/home.html
• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
(US Department of Commerce)
http://www.noaa.gov/
• Hurricane Information
http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/
• U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program
http://www.usgcrp.gov/