Climates of Latin America

1. Climates of Latin America

2. Both latitude and elevation dictate climates of Latin America • Most of Latin America is located between the Tropic of Capricorn and Cancer • In this region you will find mostly tropical rain forests & tropical savannas • The exception comes in the form of highlands climate • In the low latitudes, mountains provide more moderate temps (Vertical Zonation)

3. Vertical Zonation • Three “zones” on a mountain • Tierra Fria – cold temps – highest section of mountain • Tierra Templada – moderate temps – middle section of mountain • Tierra Caliente – hot/warm temps – lowest section of a mountain • As elevation increases, temperatures drop, which leads to more precipitation

4. Vertical Zonation cont. • Vegetation is affected by Vertical Zonation • Lower elevation = dry – limited vegetation • Higher elevation = cold – limited vegetation • The middle, Tierra Templada, is where most vegetation can be sustained • Read handout on Vertical Zonation & complete questions on last page

5. Climates of Latin America cont. • Drier climates (steppe & desert) prevail south of the Tropic of Capricorn & north of Cancer • Humid Subtropical climate can be found in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, & northern Argentina (Tropic of Capricorn & south)

6. The Amazon Rain Forest The world’s most diverse ecosystem

7. Facts about the Rainforest • Takes up ¼ of South America • Over half of the rainforest can be found in Brazil (54%) • Other countries containing the Amazon Rainforest include: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia • Rainfall averages 7 ½ feet per year, with some regions experiencing up to 20 ft./yr. • Half of the year the rainforest is flooded, which causes water levels to rise up to 65 ft above normal and flood 30-50 miles from the main channel.

8. Vegetation in the Rainforest • Consists of palm, fern, teak, bamboo, mahogany, and evergreen trees; mangroves found along rivers • Vegetation must be resistant to flooding • The canopy is created by a thick network of tree branches & leaves forming a barrier between the sun & forest floor; highest part of the rainforest • Because of the density of the canopy, only about 1/3 of the precipitation becomes a part of the Amazon Basin • Approximately half of the precipitation gets caught in the canopy and evaporates back in to the atmosphere to start the water cycle all over • Additional amounts of precipitation get released back into the atmosphere through transpiration • The canopy fuels the continuous flow of the water cycle

9. CANOPY

10. Deforestation in the Amazon • Brazil alone destroys approximately 5. 4 million acres per year (football field = 1 acre) • In 1500, 6-9 million natives lived in the rainforest; Today, there are less than 200,000 • 18 species become extinct each day in the Amazon; 137 species are lost each day amongst the world’s rainforests

12. Deforestation in Brazil

13. Why is the Amazon Rainforest being destroyed? • Cattle ranching/grazing of animals • Agriculture/farming (subsistence & commercial) • Logging (hardwoods, paper products, charcoal) • Hydroelectric dams • Medical research/medicines • Highway construction (Transamazoninan Highway) • Gold mining • Oil drilling

15. Results of Deforestation • Additional amounts of CO2 • Climate change • Erosion of the soil • Desertification • Less oxygen produced • Loss of habitat = migration and extinction of inhabitants (animal, human, and plant) • Destruction of possible medical cures