Adapted from Thomas Glenn
CLIMATE OF LATIN AMERICA
THE TROPICS

Much of Latin America
is located in the Tropics
Tropic of Cancer
 Tropic of Capricorn


This area receives
direct rays of the sun
for much of the year
CLIMATE ZONES
Climate Zone
Location
Tropical Rainforest
Some Caribbean Islands and much of Central and
South America
Tropical Grasslands
Parts of Central America, most Caribbean Islands, and
north central South America
Steppe
Northern Mexico, coastal Peru and Chile, northeastern
Brazil, and southeastern Argentina
Desert
Pacific coast of Northern Chile (Atacama Desert)
Mediterranean
Central Chile
Humid Subtropical
Southeastern Brazil to the Pampas in Argentina and
Uruguay
Marine West Coast
Southern Chile and Southern Argentina
CLIMATE OF LATIN AMERICA

Andes:


Amazon River Basin:



Below sub-zero temperatures
 why are the Andes Mountains cold?
Tropical heat (80°F)
Receives over 80 inches of rain per year
Atacama Desert

One of the driest places on Earth

what physical feature creates the desert?
THE ATACAMA DESERT
CLIMATE IN THE CARIBBEAN
Climate is usually sunny and warm
Hurricane Season: June to November


The Caribbean
CLIMATE FACTORS

Elevation is the height of land above sea level


The higher the elevation= the colder the temperature
Location to the equator: countries that are located
on or near the Equator are warmer.

The farther you move away from the Equator the more
the temperatures drop
ALTITUDE CLIMATE ZONES
ALTITUDE CLIMATE ZONES
Altitude Zone
Temperature
Crops Grown
Tierra Helada
20°F - 55°F
Little to no
vegetation
Tierra Fria
55°F - 65°F
Barley, wheat,
potatoes, apples
Tierra Templada
65°F - 75°F
Coffee, corn,
citrus
Tierra Caliente
75°F - 80°F
Bananas, rice,
sugarcane, cacao
WHAT IS THE RING OF FIRE?

The ring of fire is located around the Pacific Ocean



75% of the world’s active volcanoes located here
90 % of earthquakes happen here
The Ring of Fire is a direct result and consequence of
plate tectonics and the movement and collisions of
crustal plates
THE RING OF FIRE
TSUNAMIS

Tsunami take place
when a huge earthquake
occurs causing the
plates below the water
to push up causing the
water to create a huge
wave.

The waves can reach 90
feet or higher.
HURRICANES

Storm system characterized by a low pressure
system center and thunderstorms that produce
strong wind and flooding rain.

Feeds off the heat released when moist air
rises and the water vapor it contains
condenses.
HURRICANES


Form almost exclusively in tropical regions.
Referred to as: typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm,
and tropical depression.
HURRICANE DISASTERS
HURRICANE DISASTERS