Lesson 4.3 MELCOW: Climate Zones in Latin America

Latin America has many latitudes because:

• It spans a large north-south distance.

• It is located near the equator.

• It has a diverse climate.

• It is a large continent.

What Latitude Zone is the majority of Latin America in?

• tropical

• polar

• temperate

• arctic

What are the characteristics of this Latitude Zone?

• Tropical climate with high temperatures

• Temperate climate with moderate temperatures

• Polar climate with extremely low temperatures

• Desert climate with low precipitation

What is the EFFECT of these many latitudes?

• They determine climate zones.

• They affect time zones.

• They influence ocean currents.

• They have no effect.

Zoom in on the map, How many climate regions can you count in Latin America?

• 5

• 7

• 9

• 11

What are the 2 largest climate zones in SOUTH America, the Caribbean, & CENTRAL America?

• tropical wet

• tropical wet/dry

• arid

• temperate

What climate zone runs up the western coast of SOUTH America with the Andes Mountains?

• highlands

• tropical rainforest

• desert

• savanna

In your opinion, which climate zone would be the hardest to live in?

• Tropical

• Arid

• Temperate

• Polar

Describe the CLIMATE (Temp. + Precipitation = Climate) of a Tropical Wet climate region:

• High temperature and high precipitation throughout the year

• Low temperature and low precipitation throughout the year

• High temperature and low precipitation throughout the year

• Low temperature and high precipitation throughout the year

What Biome exists in Northern South America & how large is it (in the Tropical Wet Climate Region)?

• Amazon Rainforest, approximately 5.5 million square kilometers

• Sahara Desert, approximately 9.2 million square kilometers

• Great Barrier Reef, approximately 344,400 square kilometers

• Siberian Taiga, approximately 13.1 million square kilometers