Climate & natural vegetation

Introduction:
 Climate is the average weather conditions of a
region over a considerable period of time
(i.e. 30 years)
 Various classifications of climates
Natural vegetation refers to all the types of
plants which grow naturally.

Primary vegetation is those plants found at a

location originally
Secondary vegetation is those plants that
recolonise (i.e. naturally) an area after it
is abandoned
CLIMOGRAPH:

graphical representation of a climate in terms of

temperature & precipitation
mean mthly temp;
- absolute fig
- constant/variable
- seasonality
total mthly precipitn
- absolute fig
- constant/variable
- seasonality
CLIMOGRAPH:
 arbitrary classification of figures:
mean temp:
> 300C : very hot
20 - 300C : warm - hot
10 - 200C : moderately
warm
0 - 100C : cold
< 00C : very cold
Temp range: diurnal & mthly / ann.
small : 0 - 3 0C / 0 - 3 0C
moderate : 4 - 70C / 4 - 7 0C
large : 8 - 120C / 8 - 150C
very large : >120C / >150C
CLIMOGRAPH:

 arbitrary classification of figures:

precipitation: annual / mthly
very high : >2000 / 120
high : 1000 - 2000 /
100 - 120
moderate : 750 - 1000 /
75 - 100
low (arid) : 250 - 750 /
25 - 75
very low : 0 - 250 /
(desert) 0 - 25
CLIMOGRAPH:

derive mean annual

temperature & total
annual precipitation if
they are not given
EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

 Distribution
EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

 Distribution
 close to the Equator (100N - 100S)
 Amazon Basin, Northern Zaire Basin,
& parts of Southeast Asia like
Singapore, Malaysia & most parts of
Indonesia
EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

 Characteristics Spore
1. High mean annual temperature (26.90C)
2. High mean mthly temperature (26-280C)
3. Very small annual temp. range (20C)
4. Moderate diurnal temp. range ( 60C)
5. High to very high annual rainfall (2344mm)

6. High to very high mthly rainfall (>150mm)

EQUATORIAL CLIMATE
EQUATORIAL CLIMATE
EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

 Reasons:

1. High & constant mthly temperature

 equatorial location  high angle of
incidence;
 not affected by tilt of Earth’s axis 
constant duration & intensity of sunlight

2. Moderate diurnal temp. range  moderating

effect of thick clouds
EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

 Reasons:

3. High to very high mthly & annual rainfall 

large body of water & frequent convectional rain;
some places also have monsoon rain
TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Distribution:
TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Distribution:
TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Distribution:

~ Amazon Basin
~ Zaire Basin
~ much of Central America
~ much of Southeast Asia
TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Structure:

•some very tall trees (40 - 48 m) known as

emergents form the emergent layer
•canopy layer is formed from the interlocking
crowns of most trees (25 - 40m);
presence of lianas & epiphytes
•understorey layer is formed by shorter trees (5 -
25 m); presence of lianas & epiphytes
TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Structure:

•shrub layer consists of shrubs, ferns & saplings (2

- 5m)
•ground layer is sparse; ferns, mosses, fungi &
litter (0 - 2m)
TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Other Characteristics:
•evergreen
•hardwood
•abundant species of flora & fauna; as many as
400 varieties of plants per hectare
•broad leaves; thick, leathery, waxy or hairy
leaves; drip tips
•shallow roots; buttress roots
•colourful flowers & sweet-smelling fruits
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
 TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Adaptations:
} to climate
> evergreen Manufacture food from
> broad leaves abundance sunlight & rain

> thick leathery, To reduce transpiration from

waxy or waxy very high day time temp.
leaves

> drip tips To drain off excess water from

heavy rain to prevent fungus
growth
 TROPICAL RAINFOREST

 Adaptations:
} to soil
To obtain nutrients from
> shallow roots decaying litter since soil is
generally infertile from leaching

} to competition
> aerial location To compete for sunlight given
dense vegetation
> buttress root

> colourful flowers To attract animals to help

& sweet-smelling propagate since the air is still
fruits within dense forest
(TROPICAL) MANGROVE FOREST

Distribution:
~ muddy & waterlogged; e.g. low-energy low-
lying coast & river banks
Structure:
3 horizontal zones
Nearest to the sea are trees most tolerant of salt
& flooding like avicennia & sonneratia
Next zone are trees less tolerant of salt and
flooding like rhizophora
Furthest zone consists of trees least tolerant of
salt and flooding like bruguiera
(TROPICAL) MANGROVE FOREST

Characteristics:
• evergreen hardwood
• specialised roots to survive water-logged condition
~ pencil-like breathing root (avicennia)
~ prop root (rhizophora) tree-like
root (bruguiera)
• special salt glands in leaves
• thick leathery leaves with drip tips
• specialised fruits
~ elongated tube-like fruit
~ buoyant fruit
(TROPICAL) MANGROVE FOREST
(TROPICAL) MANGROVE FOREST
(TROPICAL) MANGROVE FOREST
(TROPICAL) MANGROVE FOREST
TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE

DISTRIBUTION:
TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE

DISTRIBUTION:
~ western Africa (e.g. Liberia, Ivory Coast &
Ghana)
~ west coast of India
~ west coast of Thailand & Myanmar

 these places have rainfall characteristics

heavily influenced by monsoon winds (i.e. a
distinct wet & dry season according to the
specific monsoon season)
TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
CHARACTERISTICS: Bombay
~ high mean ann. temp. 26.40C
~ high - very high mean
mthly temp. 24 - 280C
~ low - moderate
ann. temp. range 40C
~ high - very high ann. r/f 1855mm
~ distinct wet & dry season
wet season > 150 mm dry
season < 100 mm
 TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE

REASONS:
~ High - very high ann. temp
 tropical latitudes  high angle of incidence 
direct & concentrated rays

~ low - moderate ann. temp. range

 those towards the subtropical location will be
affected by the ‘movement’ of Sun between Tropic of
Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn  higher temp. during summer
mths & lower temp. during winter mths; although no true
seasons experienced
 TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE

REASONS:
~ High - very high total ann. r/f 
seasonal moisture laden winds came from sea  high temp.
of wind  huge amt of water vapour stored

~ dry season 
wind blows offshore in response to seasonal regional
pressure systems  dry wind
~ wet season
 wind blows onshore in response to seasonal
regional pressure systems  wet wind
 TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
REASONS FOR WEST COAST OF INDIA:
~ during the winter months (around Dec),
the lower intensity & shorter duration of
insolation in the temperate northern region
due to the overhead Sun being at the
Tropic of Capricorn  very cold temp at
interior Asia  very high pressure system
 air moves out  (for west coast of
India) as the wind moves southward,
deflection to the right due to the rotation
of the Earth (Coriolis effect)  NE
Monsoon  dry offshore wind
 TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
REASONS FOR WEST COAST OF INDIA:
~ during the summer months (around
July), the higher intensity & longer
duration of insolation in the temperate
northern region due to the overhead Sun
being at the Tropic of Cancer  very high
temp at interior northern India  very low
pressure system  air moves in  (for
west coast of India) as the wind moves
northward, deflection to the right due to
the rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect) 
SW Monsoon  wet onshore wind
 TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
REASONS FOR WEST COAST OF INDIA:
 TROPICAL MONSOON FOREST

Distribution:
 TROPICAL MONSOON FOREST

Distribution:

~ West coast of India

~ west coast of Myanmar
~ East coast of Vietnam

~ West coast of Central America

 TROPICAL MONSOON FOREST

Structure:

~ 3 layers
~ canopy layer formed by crowns of trees; 25-30m;
+ epiphytes & lianas

~ understorey layer formed by shorter trees about

15m + bamboos
~ ground layer consists of thick shrubs &
thickets/herbs/grasses especially the start of dry
season
 TROPICAL MONSOON FOREST

Other Characteristics:

~ deciduous, shed leaves at start of dry season

~ dense & luxuriant vegetation during wet season,
though less compared to tropical rainforest

~ hardwoods; like teak & rosewood

~ many varieties of plants; about 200 varieties per

hectare

~ dense undergrowth during dry season when

sunlight is able to reach the ground
 TROPICAL MONSOON FOREST

Adaptations:
~ deciduous  reduce transpiration during dry season
~ thick leathery, waxy or hairy leaves  withstand
very high daytime temperature
~ drip tips  prevent fungal growth & photosynthesise
effectively
~ deep roots  tap deep groundwater, especially
when water is scarce in dry season
~ thick rough barks  protection against fires in dry
season
 COLD/COOL TEMPERATE CLIMATE
DISTRIBUTION:
~ between 400 & 700 North only
~ e.g. interior of eastern Europe (e.g. east Poland &
Romania); Byelorussia; Ukraine; central Russia; much
of Scandinavia (Norway; Sweden & Finland)
 COLD/COOL TEMPERATE CLIMATE
CHARACTERISTICS:
~ low-very low mean annual temperature < 100C
~ true seasons; spring, summer, autumn & winter
~ very cold winter, with coldest mean mthly temp. <-
50C
~ cool summer, with warmest mean mthly temp. < 200C
~ moderate to low annual precipitation; if moderate with
inland location  Humid Continental Cold/Cool
Temperate Climate
 COLD TEMPERATE CLIMATE
CHARACTERISTICS for WINNIPEG, CANADA:
~ mean ann. temp  1.40C
~ true seasons
~ coldest mean mthly
temp. (Dec)  -190C
~ warmest mean mthly
temp. (Jul)  200C

~ moderate total ann.

precipitation of 555 mm;
with slightly more in
summer months; considered
humid given continental
(inland) location
 COLD TEMPERATE CLIMATE
EXPLANATION:
~ low mean ann. temp + true seasons
 high temperate latitudes (in the 50s)  small angle of
incidence  slanted & diffused rays  low temp 
temperate latitudes  affected by tilt of Earth’s axis 
variation in intensity & duration of insolation with
‘movement’ of Sun between Tropic of Cancer & Capricorn 
true seasons
~ moderate to low precipitation 
low temperature results in air having lower ability to store
water vapour
 low temperature causes water droplets to freeze (snow,
hail & sleet)
 COLD TEMPERATE CLIMATE
EXPLANATION:
~ higher precipitation in summer
 higher temperature leads to convectional rain
 TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FOREST
DISTRIBUTION:

~ much of Eastern Europe & Russia

~ much of Sweden & Finland

~ much of Canada & Alaska

 TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FOREST
STRUCTURE:
~ single layer of conifers which grow close together to
a height of about 20 metres
 TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FOREST
CHARACTERISTICS:
~ evergreen conifers (straight-trunked, cone-shaped
trees)
~ softwoods; e.g. fir, pine, spruce & cedar
~ needle-like leaves

~ thick barks
~ very few varieties of plants; 1-2 varieties per hectare
 TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FOREST

ADAPTATIONS:
~ shedding leaves to conserve heat loss & prevent
possible leaf cells damage from frost
~ thick barks to protect from low temperatures at night
during winter
~ deep roots to tap deep groundwater; as surface soil
moisture may freeze during winter & evaporate during
summer
FOREST:
Importance:
- protect against soil erosion; fertile topsoil
- reduce leaching
- protection of catchment area
- absorption of carbon dioxide
- production of oxygen
- natural habitat of animals
- diversity of plants/fauna
- biodiversity
- tribal/traditional cultures
FOREST:
Reasons for Loss of Forest:
- rapid population growth; around 2%

- outflow of overcrowded cities; Rio de Janerio &

Sao Paulo
- mean of subsistence living
- for commercial farming; cattle ranching,
plantation cultivation of bananas, sugar cane &
coffee
- for mining; timber, iron ore, gold, bauxite & oil
- improvement of transport; Transamazonia
Highway
FOREST:
Measures to Save the Forest:
- control population growth
- improvement of cities’ infrastructure to cater for
the growing population
- practise selective logging
- cost-benefit analysis of any econ. activities
- setting aside protected areas
- setting aside tribal land reserves
- ensure sustainable development