Unit 5 - Natural landscapes

Unit 5 - Natural landscapes

What types of climate are there?WORLD CLIMATES

1- Natural and humanized landscapes

Natural landscapes are areas that have not been modified by human activity.Many of these areas are natural reserves today, to protect them from human activity.

Natural landscapes

Humanized landscapes

Humanized landscapes are the ones that have been modified by human activity, for example, rural landscapes, agricultural landscapes, human settlements, industrial or mining areas, etc.

HomeworkExercise 2 on page 73, and 2 on page 86.

2- The equatorial rainforest

REMINDER!Equatorial climate. It is found near the equator. Temperatures are always hot (average around 27ºC), there is very little variation in temperatures, and precipitation is abundant and regular, more than 2000 mm a year.

EQUATORIAL

RAINFORESTS are found in

regions close to the equator,

as you can check in the map.

Dense and varied vegetation

grows in rainforests because

of their heat and humidity.

They are home to an

extremely wide range of plant

and animal species,

especially insects and birds.

RainforestsThe trees are broad-leaved and evergreen, and the vegetation tends to grow in three layers (undergrowth, intermediate trees and shrubs, and very tall trees, which form a canopy).They have a lot of species of animals and plants.These landscapes are almost uninhabited because of the heat and humidity. However some native peoples live by hunting or gathering plants.

Layers of the rainforest ->

Indigenous peoples

HomeworkExercises 2, 3 and 4 on page 75.

3- A tropical landscape: the savannahTROPICAL CLIMATESThey are found in the hot climate zone. Temperatures are always high. Rainfall is abundant (500-2000 mm) but not regular. There are two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Rivers have a smaller, more irregular flow than equatorial rivers.Depending on precipitation, we can find dry or wet tropical climate.

TROPICAL LANDSCAPES

They include: the savannah, the tropical

rainforest and the hot desert.

Tropical rainforest are similar to equatorial

rainforests, but their vegetation is less

dense.

In tropical regions most people live on the

coast or near the rivers.

Savannah

Tropical savannahs are open grasslands, usually with scattered bushes or trees, characteristic of much of tropical Africa.They are home to many herbivores as well as carnivores.Most people live on the coast or near the rivers. There are small towns.

ActivitiesExercise 1 on page 76.

4- The desert

DESERT CLIMATESThere is very little precipitation (less than 250 mm). There are two types:.Hot deserts are near the tropics. Temperatures varies a lot from day (can be over 50ºC) to night (below 0ºC)..Cold deserts are in temperate zones, and they have two seasons (hot and cold).

DESERT LANDSCAPESVegetations and animal life are scarce because of the lack of water.However there are species that have adapted to dry conditions.They are almost uninhabited, but some nomads live in deserts.Some towns have developed in deserts around the oil and natural gas industries.

ActivitiesExercises 2, 3 and 4 on page 77.

5- Mediterranean landscapes

MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATESIt is found around the Mediterranean sea. However it exists in other parts of the world.Temperatures are very high in summer and mild in winter.Precipitation is not abundant and mainly in autumn and spring, summers are dry.Droughts are a big problem.

MEDITERRANEAN LANDSCAPESRivers have an irregular flow. It depends on the season. Floods are a danger.In mediterranean forests there are different trees, shrubs and plants. However this landscape has changed a lot because of human action both inland and on the coast.

ActivitiesExercises 1 to 4 on pages 78-79.

6- Oceanic landscapes

OCEANIC CLIMATESThey are located in the west coasts of temperate zones.Temperatures are mild.Precipitation is abundant and regular.Rivers have a regular flow.

OCEANIC LANDSCAPESVegetation is abundant and green.Types:-Meadows.-Deciduous forests.-MoorsTheses areas are densely populated.

Deciduous forestsThey have deciduous trees such as oaks, and beeches, they lose their leaves in the autumn.

Moors

There are moors in areas where the soil is poor.Bushes and short grasses grow on the moors.

Meadows The grass in meadows is used as pasture for animals.

Exercise 1 on page 80 + questions on this chart.

7- Continental landscapesCONTINENTAL CLIMATESThese are located in the temperate zones in the Northern hemisphere.Temperatures have a great range, they are extreme.Precipitation generally occurs in summer.Rivers could be frozen during winter.

CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES1- Coniferous forests or taigas: long winters. Coniferous trees. Very small population.2- Grasslands: are found on plains, in continental climates.Prairies: moderate rainfall. High

grass. Most people live there.Steppes: drier areas, low grass.

Coniferous forest or taiga

Prairies

Steppes

HomeworkExercises 1, 2 and 3 on pages 82-83.

8- Polar landscapesPOLAR CLIMATESThey are found in both poles.They are the coldest on Earth. It is always cold.It is night for six months.There is little precipitation and it is in the form of snow.

POLAR LANDSCAPESThey are covered by ice and snow.The subsoil is frozen so plants cannot grow, and only a few animals live there.Near the polar circles, where it is hotter, there is the tundra landscape, with some vegetations and more animals.Human life is very difficult.

Arctic landscape

Antarctic landscape

Tundra

Homework

9- Mountain landscapes

MOUNTAIN OR ALPINE CLIMATESLocated in the highest mountain ranges.Temperatures are very low in winter and cool in summer.There is abundant precipitation.Temperatures and precipitation change with altitude.

ALPINE LANDSCAPESVegetation changes from one part of the mountain to another, it changes with:-altitude-sunny or shady slope-windy areasPopulation depends on climate.

Speaking time...

Homework

Exercises 1, 4, 6 on page 86.