Topography and Climate Overview

Topography

• Topography describes the physical features of a land area.
• Topography includes natural formations like mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys.
• Topography also encompasses man-made features like roads, dams, and cities.
• Landforms are physical features that affect an area.
• Elevation refers to the height of mountains, valleys, hills, plateaus, glaciers, lakes, and rivers.
• Latitude determines the north/south position of a location relative to the equator.
• Longitude determines the east/west position of a location, measured from the Prime Meridian.

Topographic Map

• A topographic map is a geographic tool that depicts the physical features of a region.

Climate

• Climate refers to the average measurements of temperature, wind, humidity, snow, and rainfall over a long period in a particular location.

Climate Zones

• There are four major climate zones: polar and subpolar, temperate, subtropical, and tropical.
• Polar and subpolar zones have cool summers and very cold winters.
• Temperate zones have no extreme temperatures and precipitation, with smooth transitions between seasons.
• Subtropical zones experience relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year.
• Tropical zones have only two seasons: a dry season and a wet season.

Natural Resources

• Natural resources are naturally occurring materials that humans can use for economic benefits.
• Natural resources are categorized into four types: renewable, living, nonrenewable, and fossil fuels.
• Renewable resources can be reproduced or replicated, such as coconut trees.
• Living resources are plants and animals that provide food and other materials.
• Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced once used or gathered, such as gold, silver, and diamonds.
• Fossil fuels are sources of energy, such as oil, coal, and diesel.