Chapter 9: Low-Latitude and Arid Climate Regions

Physical GeographyPhysical GeographyNinth EditionNinth Edition

Robert E. Gabler

James. F. Petersen

L. Michael Trapasso

Dorothy Sack

Low-Latitude and Arid Climate Regions

East Africa

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

Tropical Rainforest (Af), Monsoon (Am) and Tropical Savanna (Aw)

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Rainforest (Af)– High temperature– Oppressive humidity– Frequent heavy rains– Massive vegetative

growth– Very little annual temp

range (2oC)– Diurnal range far greater

than annual range

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Rainforest (Af)– ITCZ– Cloud Forests– Climograph

Q: Why is it difficult, without looking at the climograph keys, to determine whether each station is located in the S. or N. hem?

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Delicate Balance– Deforestation– Native Populations

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Monsoon (Am)– Distinction between rainforest and monsoon– ITCZ shifts: when it shifts away it is dry

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Monsoon (Am)– Effects of Seasonal

Change

Q: Would it be beneficial to the people of SE Asia if the traditional rice farming methods were replaced by mechanized rice agriculture as practiced in the United States?

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Savanna (Aw)– Distinct seasonal precipitation pattern– Less precip. and shorter wet season as

compared to monsoon

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Savanna (Aw)– Transitional Features

Q: Why do you think Argentina is a major exporter of beef cattle?

9.1 Humid Tropical Climate Regions

• Tropical Savanna (Aw)– Savanna Potential– Large variation in annual

precipitation

Q: What environmental problems may be created as cattle herds grow?

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

• Two major concentrations of arid regions:– Tropic of Cancer and 10o – 15o degrees

poleward and equatorward• Mojave Desert• Sahara Desert

– Tropic of Capricorn and 10o – 15o degrees poleward and equatorward• Namib Desert• Atacama Desert• Australian Desert

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

Q: What does a comparison of this map with the map of the of World Population density (back cover) suggest?

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

• Desert Climates• Steppe Climate

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

• Desert (BWh and BWk): – Annual precip. fewer than 25 cm/yr (10 in./year)– Factors that may cause an area to be a desert:

• Strong Subtropical High pressure• Rain-shadow• Continentality

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

Q: What environmental clues suggest that rainfall is an infrequent event?

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

Q: How might storms like these affect human health? What about machinery and vehicles?

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

Adaptations By Plants and Animals

Q: What physical characteristics of cacti help them to survive heat, drought, and evaporation rates of the desert?

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

• Steppe (BSk and BSh): – Annual precip of 25-50 cm/

yr (10-20 inches/year)– Factors that may cause

steppe climate:• Strong Subtropical High

pressure• Rain-shadow• Continentality• Transition between

desert and ____.

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

• Steppe (Great Plains, Great Basin)

9.2 Arid Climate Regions

• A Dangerous Appeal:– Agriculture– Dry cycles– Dust Bowl of 1930’s in

Great Plains

Physical Geography

End of Chapter 9: Low-Latitude and Arid Climate Regions