Slide 1: World Regional Geography
Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Middle and South America Middle and South America and the Caribbean and the Caribbean
Slide 2: Chapter Themes
1.
Physical and cultural diversity
African, Dutch, German, British, Chinese, Japanese, other Asians, Indigenous peoples, Creoles…much more than just “Latin” Americans!
1.
Increasing regional integration of trade
Countries forming economic links w/ one another, US, EU, Pac. Rim—reducing colonial trade barriers, forming free trade blocs
1. 1.
Reliance on production of raw materials
Export manufacturing is growing
Some changes to highly stratified social systems
Growing political influence of poor majority; worst disparities of wealth in the world; European descendants tend to hold power
1. 1.
Rural-to-urban and international migration
Remittances are significant; migrants have global impacts
The endurance of the extended family
Despite declining birth rates, multigenerational families predominate, defining gender roles and providing mutual support
Slide 3: The Physical Environment
Slide 4: Probable development of the Guiana and Brazilian Highlands
Slide 5: Development of the Western Highlands (Sierra Madre and Andes)
Slide 6: Formation of the Islands of the Caribbean
Slide 8: Hazards Associated with Extrusive Volcanism
Volcanic blast Earthquakes Avalanches and Debris Flows Mudflows and Lahars
Eruption column and ashfall Pyroclastic flows Lava flows Volcanic gases
Slide 9: Mt. Mayon, Island of Luzon, Phillipeans, 1984
Pyroclastic Flows (Nueé Ardant)
Swift, destructive cloud of hot ash and gases that flows rapidly downhill and burns all in its path
Ash weighs down the gases, which would otherwise rise into the atmosphere Nueé Ardant—French for “glowing avalanche”
Slide 10: Mt. Pelée, Island of Martinique, Caribbean
May 8,1902—The town of St. Pierre was obliterated by a nuée ardante; over 28,000 lost their lives
St. Pierre today….
Slide 11: Sourfrière volcano, Montserrat
Slide 12: Soufriere Hills Pyroclastic Flow
The Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies, began erupting on July 18, 1995.
Slide 13: Mudflows and Lahars
Superheated ash and magmas melt and mix with snow and ice, then speed down the volcano’s flanks
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia, 1985 Melted ice and snow mixed with volcanic ash and mud, sending a 130 foot (40 m) high mud-flow down the Lagunilla River
Slide 17: The Physical Environment
Landforms
Lowlands Highlands and Islands
Subduction Zones
One crustal plate diving under another Crustal material remelts; magma rises to become mountains and/or volcanoes
The Andes Mountains A Volcanic Caribbean
Slide 18: What is Climate?
Climate is the condition of the lower atmosphere in a particular region on Earth that is the average of at least 30 years worth of weather conditions in that place.
Slide 19: How is Climate Determined?
Climatic elements considered when determining the climate of a region:
Temperature Moisture
Precipitation, humidity, cloudiness, surface water, evaporation conditions
Related to temperature
Vegetation and soil conditions
May be used to determine climatic conditions where unclear
Slide 20: Additional Conditions Considered:
Air pressure, wind, air mass movements, and global atmospheric circulations are also considered
These are related to latitude, altitude, ocean circulation, topography, and spatial distribution of land and sea
Also factored in:
Extreme weather conditions (flooding, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
Slide 21: Why do we care?
Climate and vegetation influence animal habitats Climate, vegetation, and animals together provide usable resources for humans These conditions influence (but do not ultimately determine) the manner in which people may inhabit a region
Slide 22: World Climate Zones: For details, see pgs. 23-27
Slide 23: Climates of Middle and South America
Slide 24: Highland Climates
Climate changes as you rise up a mountain
Temperature drops 1ºF/300 ft (1ºC/165 m) Clouds and orographic rainfall increases
Every climate type on Earth can be experienced in one day of hard-core hiking
Slide 26: ENSO: El Niño Southern Oscillation
Slide 28: Next class: More on Ch. 3
Middle and South America and the Caribbean: Human Patterns and Current Issues
