Chapter 2 Section 4
How Climate Affects
Vegetation

An area of cold climate and low-lying vegetation

The layer formed by the uppermost branches of a rain forest

A combination of grasslands and scattered trees

Desert vegetation that needs little water

Trees that lose their leaves seasonally

Trees that produce cones to carry seeds

Climate and Vegetation
5 Types of Climate
1. Tropical
2. Dry
3. Temperate marine
4. Temperate continental
5. Polar

TROPICAL WET CLIMATE
• Year-round rainfall
• Tropical Rainforest
• Rainy and Dry season
• Grasslands and scattered trees
TROPICAL DRY CLIMATE
• Very hot summers
• Mild winter
• Very little rain
• Little to no vegetation
• Plants need almost no water to survive

Temperate Marine Climate
• Found in middle latitudes, near coastlines
• Mild winters
• 3 types: Mediterranean, marine west coast, and humid subtropical

Temperate Continental Climate
• Climate supports grasslands and forests
• In a humid continental climate-summer temps are hot and winters are cold
• Subarctic climate regions-drier, cool summers, cold winters

Polar Climate
• Cold all year round
• Short and cool summers
• Long and COLD winters
• Covered in ice
• No vegetation grows here

Earth’s Vegetation Regions
1. Tropical Rain Forest-thousands of plants grow because of intense sunlight, warmth, and rain
2. Tropical Savanna- tropical area with winter dry seasons or limited rainfall
3. Desert-no vegetation at all or plants that need very little water to survive
4. Desert Scrub-a little more rain occurs; plants need little water

Earth’s Vegetation Regions
5. Mediterranean Vegetation-grasses, shrubs, low trees; warm and dry summers
6. Temperate Grassland-vast grassland; prairie
7. Deciduous Forest-trees that lose their leaves
8. Coniferous Forest-produce cones to carry seeds
9. Tundra-cold climate, low-lying vegetation
10. Highland-depends on elevation
11. Ice Cap/Pack Ice-thick ice, cold, no vegetation

Where in the WORLD are these regions?
Look at page 53 in textbook
• What is most of Australia?
• What states are considered to be coniferous forest in the US?
• What is Florida?
• What is North Africa?
• What is Europe?
• What is Antarctica?

Vertical Climate Zones
• Elevation-the height of mountains
• Air becomes cooler as elevation increases
• Harder to breathe-less oxygen
• As you get higher, the plants and vegetation decrease until nothing grows at the top (the peak of mountain)