CLIMATE AND NATURAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD
What is Climate?
Climate: is the average of weather condition which recorded over long period of time. Normally over thirty 30 years. Climate has two major parameters which are Temperature and Rainfall/precipitation.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CLIMATE OF THE PLACE
1. Latitude: It usually influences temperatures and precipitation on the surface of the earth. However the areas nearer to the Equator experience higher temperature than those far away. Shifting of the overhead position of the sun is determined by latitudes and has an influence on climate.
2. Altitude: Influences temperature and pressure of a region. Low altitude regions are warmer and experience high atmospheric pressure while high altitude areas are cooler and have low pressure.
3. Distance from the sea: Has an influence in both temperature and rainfall of a region. During summer onshore winds have cooling effect on the land which is warm. During winter the sea is warmer than the land.
4. Aspect: Aspect refers to the direction in which a slope faces e.g in The Northern Hemisphere, the Southern ward slopes are warmer than the North ward facing slopes. This is because the North slopes never receive direct sunshine as the sun in this region never gets over head. Windward slopes of highlands receive much higher rainfall than the Leeward slopes.
5. Ocean Currents: Current flowing along the Coasts tend to modify the climate of the Coastal regions. Where onshore wind blow over a cold ocean current are cooled from the below and the moisture they are carrying is condensed and dropped over the sea as rain.
6. Prevailing Winds: Wind is a medium of transfer of heat and moisture over the land. If wind is blowing from a warm region, it has the warming effects over the region it is blowing across and if wind will blow from cold region it will be cold and will cool the land over which it is blowing.
7. Human Activities: Like development of settlements, agriculture and construction of dams and creation of man made lakes have influence on climate. In recent times we are realizing the effects of human activities in causing climate change, caused by clearing of forests , draining and cultivating swamp areas, emission of Chlorofluorocarbons and other gases from factories and motor vehicles.
NATURAL REGIONS IN THE WORLD
Natural Regions: are geographical areas with uniform physical characteristics that differ between one and another natural regions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL REGIONS
1. They experience similar environmental problems.
2. They characterized by having the same geographical back ground.
3. They are connected by the same latitude positions.
4. They characterized by having uniform soil and vegetation characteristics.
5. They have the same occupation such as a mining, agriculture and animal husbandry.
TYPES/ CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL REGIONS
There are so many natural regions in the world such as follow:-
1. Equatorial Regions.
2. Tropical/savannah Region.
3. Mediterranean.
4. Hot Desert.
5. Warm Temperate Interior Region.
6. Cold Temperate Continental Region (SIBERIAN TYPE).
7. Cool Temperate West margin Region (BRITISH TYPE).
8. Cool Temperate Eastern margin Region (LAURENTIAN TYPE).
9. Warm Temperate Eastern coast margin Region (CHINA TYPE).
10. Monsoon Region.
11. Mountain Region.
12. Tundra and Polar Region.
A). THE EQUATORIAL REGIONS
Equatorial regions: These are climatic regions which are located in the latitude position between 0°-5° Norh (N) and South (S) of the equator.
Example of equatorial regions in the world
i. West coastal Nigeria.
ii. Congo basin.
iii. Amazon basin.
iv. Indonesia basin.
v. Singapore basin.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL REGION
1. It characterized by high temperature and high rainfall through out the year.
2. The annual temperature range between 2°c up to 4°c.
3. The total annual rainfall is more than 2000mm throughout the year. The common type of rainfall is convectional rainfall which is usually accompanied with thurnder and lightning.
4. It characterized by having dense and evergreen forests, which are collectively called Tropical rain forests
5. It characterized by presence of high humidity throughout the year: Due to the presence of high evaporation which resulted in to high content of water vapour in the atmosphere.
6 The daily mean temperature is usually about up to 26°c throughout the year.
7. The common human activities found in equatorial regions include tourism, fishing, lumbering, and cultivation.
8. Animals found in equatorial regions are such as monkey, gorilla, chimpanzee,, crocodiles, and hippopotamus etc.
Human activities found in Equatorial regions
i. Plantation agriculture.
ii. Fishing.
iii. Cultivation.
iv. Sedentary farming.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL VEGETATIONS
1. The equatorial vegetation are collectively called Tropical rain forests.
2. The equatorial vegetations are closely together to form dense forests.
3. The equatorial forests characterized by having little under growth due to lack of sunlight penetration.
4. The equatorial forests are characterized by having taller trees which appear in layers.
5. The equatorial forests characterized by evergreen throughout the year due to the presence of high rainfall.
6. The upper branches of equatorial trees form a continues layer called canopy.
7. It characterized by having many epiphites grow towards the sunlight.
B). TROPICAL REGION /GRASSLAND/SAVANNAH REGION
Tropical climatic region: Is the natural region which is found to the latitude position between 5° - 20°North and South of the equator Between equatorial and tropical desert.
Example of tropical regions are:
i. East and Central Africa.
ii. Brazilian plateau,
iii. Venezuela,
iv. North Australia.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL REGION
1. High temperature range from 20°c - 32°c.
2. Temperature range is 8°c.
3. Total rainfall varies from 500mm to 1500mm per year.
4. Vegetation: the tropical regions are characterized by having taller grasses with scattered trees which are collectively called Savannah grassland vegetation example: Miombo, palm, acacia, gum tree.
5. Human activities: the main human activities in tropical climate include, mining, tourism, pastoralism and cultivation.
6. Animals found: Lion, leopard, zebra, giraffe.
NB: Example of crops that are grown in tropical regions include, cotton, sisal, casava, cashnuts, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, etc.
C). HOT DESERT CLIMATIC REGION
Desert: is an area which receive little amount of rainfall usually is not exceed 250mm per annum/year.
Normally desert regions are located to the latitude position between 20
• to 30° north and south of equator.
Example of desert regions in would
i. Saharan desert in North and west Africa.
ii. Kalahari desert in Namibia.
iii. Namib desert in Namibia.
iv. Atakama desert in south America.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DESERT CLIMATE
1. It characterized by no or little amount of rainfall throughout the year which is usually not exceed to 250mm per year due to:-
i. Scarcity of vegetation.
ii. Nature of prevailing winds are mostly dry winds (off-shore winds).
iii. Scarcity of humidity.
2. It characterized by high temperature during the day to about 46°c and during the night the temperature fall rapidly to about 16°c.
3. It characterized by little or scarcity of humidity due to the absence of large water bodies and vegetation.
4. It characterized by poor vegetation due to the scarcity of rainfall. Example of desert vegetations are such as bawbaw, cactus, shrubs, thickets, bamboo trees, etc.
5. The temperature range is more than 20°c.
6. The daily mean temperature is up to 30°c.
7. The common human activities found in desert regions are such as pastoralism, cultivation, mining, tourism and transportation.
CHATACTERISTICS OF HOT DESERT VEGETATION
1. Presence of long trapped roots: The desert vegetation are characterized by having long tapped roots which enable them to reach the water table.
2. Presence of narrow shaped leaves: They characterized by having narrow shaped leaves which enable the plants to reduce the transpiration (losing water).
3. Presence of dormant steady seeds: Desert vegetation have dormant sets which can survive for long period of time without water hence once when the rain come tend to germinate quickly and produce new species.
4. Presence of special mechanisms: the desert vegetation have special mechanisms which enable them to protect against enemies. Example of such mechanisms include, wax, thorns, and bad smells.
D). MONSOON CLIMATIC REGIONS
Monsoon climate: These are climatic regions whose climate is controlled by seasonal blowing of winds. Example of monsoon regions in the world are such as India, Burma, China, and Indonesia.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MONSOON REGIONS
1. The climate is controlled by seasonal blowing of winds.
2. The amount of rainfall depend on the seasonal blowing of winds.
3. The temperaxture range is between 30°c during the summer and 15°c during the winter.
4. There is high humidity during the summer due to high evaporation and during the winter the humidity tend to be low.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MONSOON VEGETATION.
1. The monsoon vegetations are collectively called Tropical monsoon forests.
2. They characterized by small number of species compared to equatorial forests.
3. Most trees become deciduous their leaves during the dry seasons.
4. They characterized by having taller trees of about 30m high but they are scattered.
5. They characterized by having may undergrowth because the trees are not more closed.
6. The trees tend to flourish their leaves during the rain season.
E). MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Mediterranean climate: Is the climatic regions which are located to the latitude position between 30° to 45° North and south of the equator.
Example of Mediterranean regions
i. South Eastern Australia.
ii. Central Chile.
iii. Central California.
iv. North and South America.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDITERRANEAN REGION
1. The temperature range from 21°c during the summer and 10°c during the winter.
2. They characterized by relatively rainfall which rage between 500mm to 750mm.
3. Most rainfalls occurs during the winter while during the Summer become low.
4. High humidity occurs during the summer due to high evaporations.
5. Type of rainfall is cyclonic rainfall.
6. Are climatic regions located in coastal belts.
7. Animal found include, Elephant, rhino, zebra, lion, buffalo.
8. Human activities found in Mediterranean region are such as tourism, agriculture, fishing and navigation.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDITERRANEAN VEGETATION
1. The mediterranean vegetations are collectively called Mediterranean forests.
2. It characterized by presence of scattered trees. The dominant trees are woodland type.
3. Most trees have small leaves which reduce the rate of evaporation.
4. Most trees become deciduous during the summer season.
5. It characterized by having many undergrowth due to the presence of scattered trees.
6. Most trees tend to flourish their leaves during the winter (rainfall) seasons.
Crops grown in Mediterranean region
These are such as wheat, potatoes, vegetable, maize and fruit cultivation, as orange, lemon and grape fruits.
F). WARM TEMPERATE INTERIOR REGION (STEPPE TYPE)
Warm climatic region: it is located between 20° - 35° North and South of the equator. Example of warm temperate regions are such as Australia, Argentina, Mexico, USA (Oklahoma, Texas, place of Manchuria).
CHARACTERISTICS OF STEPPE TYPE REGION
1. It characterized by short warm summer and long cold winter.
2. It has two seasonal in the year which include summer and winter.
3. The amount of rainfall is very little due to low humidity and the cold prevailing winds with less moisture.
4. The common type of rainfall is conventional rainfall caused by low pressure system.
5. The total annual rain is rqnge between 380mm -700mm per year, hence depending on distance of the sea.
6. The temperqture range from 15ºc- 25ºc depending on location of the place.
7. The maximum temperature during day time is more than 30ºc.
Human activities on warm temperate region
1. Animal rearing ( cattle and sheep ranching ) to large grassland.
2. Agriculture, main crop cultivate is wheat, maize, linseed.
3. Mining in grassland (coal, oil, and iron ores).
Environmental Problems facing temperate regions
1. Environmental pollution (air) due to industries.
2. Deforestation.
3. Snow fall destroy crops.
4. Floods, soil erosion.
5. Dust storm, thunderstorms.
6. Drought condition.
7. Leaching.
G). COLD TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL REGION (SIBERIAN TYPE)
Cold temperate continental region: are climatic regions located in the Northern hemisphere along the latitude position of 60ºN in Europe, Asia and Northern America.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SIBERIAN TYPE
1. It characterized by short warm summer season and long cold winter season. Normally during the warmest months the temperature reach about 30ºc.
2. The annual temperature range is up to 37ºc very high due to distance from the sea.
3. The minimum temperature during night is less than 40ºc.
4. Most rainfalls in summer associated with thunderstorms.
5. The common type of rain is convectional rainfall.
6. Average rainfall is up to 500mm per year.
VEGETATION
1. Coniferous forest ( but fewer than in equatorial climate).
2. Trees are evergreen; leaves are needle shaped, thick and leathery in order to reduce loss of moisture by transpiration.
3. Conical shaped trees do not permit the accumulation of snow.
Human activities
1. Agriculture.
2. Lumbering.
3. Fishing.
4. Mining and trapping.
Animals found
Animal have short ears and tails, so as to adapt to seasonal changes (e.g. moose , caribou fox).
Environmental problems
1. Flooding.
2. Leaching.
3. Glacial erosion.
4. Soil infertility.
5. Frost destroys crops.
6. Environmental pollution.
H). COOL TEMPERATE WEST COAST MARGIN REGION (BRITISH TYPE)
Cool temperate: Is climate is located in Western sides of continents between 45º-60ºN and South of the equator. Example of these regions are such as Northern Western Canada, Coast of South Chile and Southern Island of New Zealand.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BRITISH TYPE
1. Type ofSoil nfall is cyclonic and orographic which is distributed throughout the year.
2. Total annual rain is 760mm but varies with distance from sea.
3. Windward slopes receive heavier rain than leeward slope.
4. Coastal regions are in oceanic influence (near the ocean).
Human activities
1. Main activity is mining and manufacturing industries.
2. Few people practice agriculture in Northern Europe.
3. Cattle, sheep, growing wheat and fruit develop in farming.
4. Availability of coniferous trees/forests encourages lumbering activities.
Environmental Problems
1. Deforestation due to lumbering, overgrazing.
2. Establishment of settlement and cultivation
.
3. Water,air,soil pollution (also water borne diseases due to water pollution).
4. Floods due to poor drainage,soil erosion.
5. Earthquake and volcanic eruption that affect coast lands destruction of properties.
6. Soil leaching,soil acidification and decline of soil fertility.
I). COOL TEMPERATURE EASTERN MARGIN REGION (LAURENTIAN TYPE)
The cool temperate eastern margin: It is located on eastern side between 35° and 50° Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Example East Canada, north china, Korea, north Japan, England, USA.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LAURENTIAN TYPE
1. Two (2) seasons per year warm in summer and cold in winter. Rain throughout the year.
2. Summer temperature , range from 12°c - 18°c.
3. Annual range is high in summer about 25°c, it differs in America 25°c and in Asia 29°c.
4. In winter low temperature range 10°c - 4°c, in America and 15°c - 4°c in Asia.
5. Cold winds carry moisture: they blow outward from interiors which are responsible for low winter temperature. Winds in North America are warmed by Great lakes which results in heavy snow falls in Eastern Canada (Great lakes influence the climate).
6. Precipitation is in the form of snow falls and rain in Southern America and Northern Japan.
7. Total rain is 550mm to 1000mm annually.
8. Rain is convectional and cyclonic.
Vegetation
1. Coniferous forest found in areas with high rainfall.
2. Northern hemisphere there are deciduous trees.
Human activities
1. Farming (USA - mixed farming , Canada – fruit trees).
2. Manufacturing industries.
3. Mining activity in America and Asia ( minerals extraction).
NB. In Asia crops as wheat, maize and soya beans grown intensively. Environmental Problem
1. Snow fall destroys crops.
2. Butter cold winter cause frost formation.
3. Environmental pollution.
4. Glacial erosion.
5. Stormy condition.
6. Dense fogs which hinder effective visibility.
7. Volcanic eruptions and earth quakes e.g. In Japan Tsunamis.
8. Decline in fertility,deforestation.
9. Soil acidification.
10. Loss of biodiversity.
J). WARM TEMPERATE EASTERN COAST MARGIN (CHINA TYPE)
The warm temperate coastal magin (china type): It is located in the Eastern side of the continents between 23° - 35° north and south of the equator. Example South Eastern USA, East central China and Eastern part of Argentina, S.E Australia and S.E Africa.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINA TYPE
1. Two season, summer and winter.
2. Hot summers with temperature about 26°c and 13°c during winter.
3. Trade winds are dominant seasonal winds they blow on short and bring convectional type of rainfall.
4. Most rain takes place in summer. in winter rain is light.
5. Annual total rain is 1000m.
Soil characteristics
1. There are variety of soil type depending on location and topography.
2. A long coast the soil is sandy, loam, silt and clay.
3. Beneath deciduous forest soil are called alfisols, rich in plant nutrients due to humus created by fallen leaves of deciduous tree.
4. Also there is peddlers and volcanic soil.
Human activities
1. Mining - Recreational centers ( camp, climb, ski).
2. Pastoralism
3. Manufacturing of HEP.
4. Tourism - Employment to people in HEP power plants.
5. Transhumance - seasonal movement of animals to the valleys and to the uplands. People take animals to the upland pastures which are free from snow in summer and brought back to the valleys during winter.
Environmental Problems
1. Drought condition in the leeward side due to rain shadow effect.
2. Soil erosion.
3. Land slides.
4. Avalanches in snow cover.
5. Deforestation ( because of lumbering and settlement).
6. Water population.
7. Flooding in lowlands.
8. Earthquakes and volcanic eruption.
9. Global warming that leads to melting of attractive snow.
K). THE MOUNTAIN REGION
Mountain climate: It is located mostly in areas where young fold mountain is obtained such as Himalaya, Alps Rockies and Andes.
Areas found
S. Europe central Asia, N. E Africa, E Australia and N & S of America.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOUNTAIN REGION
1. Temperature of air drop as altitude increase.
2. When the warm moist air moves up the windward slope of mountain it cools and water vapour condenses into water droplet, which then fall as rain or snow on the windward side .
3. The dry area (leeward side) which is away from wind is called rain shadow.
4. Precipitation increase when altitude increase, it is called relief or orographic precipitation.
5. Types of rainfall is orographic or relief rainfall. Animals found
Only few living things survive in the bitter cold of snow. Just below snowfield a variety of small animals are found.
Economic activities
1. Hunting.
2. Fishing.
3. Rearing of vender.
Environmental Problem
1. Severally cold condition.
2. Snow fall and snow cover.
3. Frozen soil that hinder cultivation.
4. Environmental pollution.
5. Avalanches in mount onerous region.
6. Shallow soil.
7. Sub glacial desert.
8. Glacial erosion.
9. Frost.
L) TUNDRA AND POLAR REGIONS
Tudra region: is located beyond latitude 600 North and South of the equator. Example North Siberia, Russia and North Canada.
Characteristics of tundra region
1. Short cool summer and long cold winter.
2. The annual range temperature varies from 290c to 500c.
3. Nights are long and day are short.
4. Snow covers the land for 9 months during the year.
Vegetation
1. Mosses , lichens sedges and grasses.
2. Arctic scrub vegetation on southern parts.
3. Tundra stands for region with low vegetation cover.
M). POLAR REGION
Polar region: It is located in Large parts of Greenland, Antarctica and interior of Iceland. It lies far away from Equator.
CHARACTERISTICS OF POLAR REGION
1. Temperature below 0°c due to effect of cold polar. Continental mass.
2. Also known as ice cap climate.
3. Receives sun rays at low angle.
4. Low temperatures.
5. Winters are extremely very long and cold.
6. The region experiences continuous darkness since it is inclined far from the sun.
7. Summer are quite cool and highest temperature hardly exceed 100c opposite direction North- East from October to April.
8. South – West / summer monsoon is accompanied by heavy rain.
9. Climate is characterized by heavy daily rainfall.
VEGETATION
1. It vary with amount of rainfall.
2. Areas with heavy rain more than 2000m, consist of dense forest with big trees (teak and tropical cedar).
3. Area with 1000mm- 2000mm, rain less dense forest, sandal wood and iron wood trees.
Human activities
1. Farming ( rice, millet, wheat , maize).
2. Tourism.
Environmental Problems
1. Land degradation.
2. Deforestation.
3. Heavy annual flood.
4. Destructive heavy rains.
5. Earthquakes due to tectonic plate movement.
6. Drought condition in some areas.
7. Leaching of soil.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change: Refers to the inconsistance of weather condition in given place for a long period of time which occur gradually. The climate change involve the slow change or variability in elements of weather like precipitation, temperature and winds for long period of time in a given place.
INDICATORS/MANIFESTATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
There are various manifestations which indicate the past climate change on the earth surface:-
1. Global warming.
2. Eruption of various diseases. E.g. skin cancer, blood pressure, etc.
3. Sea level change.
4. Melting of ice in Antarctica and other parts in the world.
5. Disappearance of some species in the world, both plants and animals.
6. Shifting of some human activities.
7. Crops failure in farms.
8. Frequently coastal floods (Tsunami) in different parts of the world.
CAUSES/FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CLIMATE CHANGE
The climate change is caused by both natural condition and artificial factors.
NATURAL FACTORS
1. Variation in the distance between the earth and the sun: With regard to the nature of the orbit of the earth and its inclination (aphelion and perihelion).
2. The variation in the atmospheric composition (concentration of the green house gases).
3. The increase in the amount of dusts in the atmosphere (volcanic eruption)
4. The elevation of the position of the land surface
5. Collision of meteorites in the atmosphere
ARTIFICIAL/MAN-MADE FACTORS
1. Combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas.
2. Deforestation (forest depletion).
3. Overstocking/overgrazing.
4. Rice cultivation
5. Application of agrochemicals.
6. Industrial activities and automobiles
7. Forest fires
8. Oils spills
9. High population growth
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
1. Global warming
2. Drought, water stress and scarcity due to the increase of the temperature
3. Flooding and soil erosion due to the increase of frequency and intensity of precipitation
4. Fall of agricultural productivity due to the loss of land.
5. Emergence of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, meningitis and cholera
6. Desertification.
7. Deforestation
8. Land/soil degradation
9. Landslides, avalanches and mudslides
10. Decrease of fishing activities.
11. Decrease of trade
12. Decrease of tourism activities
15. Destruction of physical infrastructure such as roads, railways, building, industries
16. Death of people and other organisms
17. Rise of global sea level
18. It limits the production of hydroelectric power,
19. It limits water transport (navigation).
20. Environmental pollution such as water pollution, land pollution and air pollution.
STRATEGIES/MEASURES TO MITIGATE/CONTROL CIMATE CHANGE
1. Provision of environmental education to the people.
2. Encouragement of alternative sources of energy such as wind energy, hydropower, solar energy, and biogas.
3. Formulation of strict environmental policies and laws
4. Population control
5. Afforestation and reforestation programmes
6. Proper waste management practices such as the use landfilling,
7. Stopping improper agricultural practices such as shifting cultivation,
8. Destocking (reducing the number of animals).
9. Reducing the use of agrochemicals (and encouraging the organic farming, and agro- forestry)
10. Proper land use planning
11. Stopping the use of explosives in mining.
12. Formation of environmental authorities which can manage the environmental protection and conservation for example NEMC, and NEMA.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. The climate of the place is the outcome of several factors. Discuss this statement by giving six points.
