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Latin AmericaClimate and Weather

Lets review the Vertical Climate Zones

3000???????What causes our seasons?

Thats rightthe tilt of the earth and the revolution of the earth around the sun.Okaywe know Texas is hot in the summer.We know we dont have hardly any snow.We know that spring and fall are great but dont last long.Wellwhy was last summer so hot?Why did we get so much snow a couple of years ago?Will we get snow this winter?Will next summer be really hotand dry?

The answer is found in the greatest cause of severe weather

The Pacific OceanLets look at El NinoA long time ago, fishermen along the west coast of South America noticed that every few years there was a lot of rain and the fishing was bad around Christmas. They called it El Nino which means little boy in Spanish.Why did they name it El Nino?El Nino

It all has to do with water temperature.Trade Winds push water towards the western Pacific Ocean

Cold water off the coast of South America pushes up and brings food for fish with it.This means lots of rain in the western Pacificand almost no rain in western South America!= Normal precipitation in Texas!A Normal Year

Trade Winds slow down.Warm surface water moves from western Pacific .. .. towards eastern Pacific.Warm water prevents deeper cold water from risingno fish!= wetter conditions in Texas El Nino Year

La Nina YearTrade Winds push more water towards the western Pacific OceanMore cold water off the coast of South America pushes up and brings food for fish with it.This means even more rain in the western Pacificand almost no rain in western South America and Texas!Sowhat will we have next summer? The experts say another scorcher!

Nowon to another topic

The AmazonIf the Amazon was a country, it would be the 9th largest in the world.It is called the Lungs of our Planet.20% of worlds oxygen come from the Amazon.>50% of all the earths plants, animals, and insects live in tropical rainforests.1/5 of the worlds fresh water is in the Amazon BasinMedicines of the Rainforest121 drugs come from plants from the rainforest3000 plants fight cancer70% live in the rainforest.One of the most powerful drugs comes from the rainforest. It fights childhood leukemia.25% of all Western pharmaceuticals come from the rainforest.

Food of the Rainforest1 acre can contain over 300 types of trees and 700 species of plants.80% of the developed worlds diet originates in the rainforest.3000 fruits are found in the rainforest.only 200 of these are in use in the Western world.Indians of the rainforest use over 2000 fruits.

Deforestation

Slash-and-Burn

Disappearing RainforestRainforests once covered 14% of the earths surfacenow it is only 6%.Experts estimate the last remaining rainforests will be consumed within 40 years.1 acres are lost every second.What is the problem?People need to work.Farmers think the only way to earn a living is by getting rid of the trees.Governments are corrupt.U.S. (and other western nations) exploit countries for their products.Discuss the plight of people living in Brazil.22Answer the following questions:What ocean experiences el Nino?T or F El Nino occurs every year.What does el Nino cause in Texas or the U.S.?Fill in the blank: __________ Climate Zones are found in South America and are based on elevation.What is the important rainforest found in South America and provides the earth with 20% of its oxygen?What river flows through the above landform?What is the major problem occurring in the above landform?Cutting down trees and burning them is called: ________ and __________.Experts think the above landform will disappear in the next (choose one): 10 years20 years30 years40 yearsAtlantic20 yearsHorizontalNileDeforestationVerticalAmazon40 yearsHurricanesSlash-and-BurnCongoPacific10 yearsPile-and-Burn30 years

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