Chapter 1: Section 2

Chapter 1
The United States and Canada
Physical Geography

Section 2: Climate and Vegetation

A. As You Read
Directions: As you read Section 2, fill in the table below with details about the climate and vegetation of the United States and Canada.

Climate and Vegetation of the United States and Canada

Climates of Canada
1. Generally cold climate due to northern latitude; ocean influence in the west creates marine west coast climate; inland plains are very cold in the winter and hot in the summer; rain shadow from the Rockies makes the east side dry.

Climates of the
United States 2. Vary greatly from Alaska in the north to Florida and Hawaii in the south; hot western deserts to the east of the Sierra Nevada; Great Plains are cold in the winter and hot in the summer; east has continental climates; north has cold, snowy winters and warm summers; south has long, hot summers and mild winters.

Vegetation Zone -
Tundra 3. Far north; cold and dry with snow cover at least half the year; mosses, grasses, and wildflowers grow only in the summer; permafrost.

Vegetation Zone -
Grassland 4. Prairies covered with tall grasses on the plains of the United States and Canada; Great Plains have shorter grasses due to less rain; wheat grows well.

Vegetation Zone -
Desert Scrub 5. Great Basin between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada in the United States; areas have short grasses and shrubs.

Vegetation Zone -
Forest 6. Nearly one third of the United States and almost one half of Canada; the northern Pacific Coast, the Rockies, and the Appalachians have coniferous trees; from the Great Lakes across southeastern Canada and New England and down to the southeastern United States are mixes of coniferous and deciduous trees.

B. Reviewing Key Terms
Directions: For each definition below, write the correct key term in the blank provided.

7. An area on the dry, sheltered side of the mountain that receives very little rain - rain shadow

8. A permanently frozen subsoil - permafrost

9. A region of flat or rolling land covered with tall grasses - prairie

10. A political division in Canada that is similar to a state in the United States - province

Climates of Canada	1. Generally cold climate due to northern latitude; ocean influence in the west creates marine west coast climate; inland plains are very cold in the winter and hot in the summer; rain shadow from the Rockies makes the east side dry.
Climates of the United States	2. Vary greatly from Alaska in the north to Florida and Hawaii in the south; hot western deserts to the east of the Sierra Nevada; Great Plains are cold in the winter and hot in the summer; east has continental climates; north has cold, snowy winters and warm summers; south has long, hot summers and mild winters.
Vegetation Zone - Tundra	3. Far north; cold and dry with snow cover at least half the year; mosses, grasses, and wildflowers grow only in the summer; permafrost.
Vegetation Zone - Grassland	4. Prairies covered with tall grasses on the plains of the United States and Canada; Great Plains have shorter grasses due to less rain; wheat grows well.
Vegetation Zone - Desert Scrub	5. Great Basin between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada in the United States; areas have short grasses and shrubs.
Vegetation Zone - Forest	6. Nearly one third of the United States and almost one half of Canada; the northern Pacific Coast, the Rockies, and the Appalachians have coniferous trees; from the Great Lakes across southeastern Canada and New England and down to the southeastern United States are mixes of coniferous and deciduous trees.