Climates of Climates of Latin AmericaLatin America

• 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)

Vertical ZonationVertical 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

Vertical Zonation cont. 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

Climates of Latin America cont. 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)

The Amazon Rain Forest

The world’s most diverse ecosystem

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.

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

CANOPY

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

YearDeforestation

[sq mi]Deforestation

[sq km]Change

[%]

1994 5,751 14,896 0%

1995 11,220 29,059 95%

1996 7,012 18,161 -38%

1997 5,107 13,227 -27%

1998 6,712 17,383 31%

1999 6,664 17,259 -1%

2000 7,037 18,226 6%

2001 7,014 18,165 0%

2002 8,187 21,205 17%

2003 9,711 25,151 19%

2004 10,590 27,429 9%

2005 7,256 18,793 -31%

2006 5,421 14,040 -49%

2007 3,865 10,010 -47%

Deforestation in Brazil

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

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