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�

Learning Target:

� I CAN discuss the different climate regions in Latin America.

� I CAN discuss the main environmental concerns in Latin America.

Today’s Topic:Latin America’s Climate and Environment

Classes begins at:

1st Block 8:35am

2nd Block l0:05am

Mrs. Stone

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SS6G2 The student will discuss environmental issues

in Latin America.

SS6G3 The student will explain the impact of location,

climate, distribution of natural resources, and

population distribution on Latin America and the

Caribbean.

Number your paper 1-9

and label the physical

features of Latin America.

Answers:

1. Panama Canal

2. Andes Mountains

3. Pacific Ocean

4. Atacama Desert

5. Andes Mountains

6. Patagonia

7. Rio de la Plata

8. Amazon River

9. Atlantic Ocean

� When you think of tropical

weather, you generally don’t think

of dry air or cold temperatures.

� Although Latin America is in the

tropics, some places are not

humid or hot.

� In fact, the Atacama Desert in

Chile is one of the driest places on

earth.

� And in the upper altitudes of the

Andes mountains, temperatures

can drop to 20°F.

Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer

& Tropic of Capricorn& Tropic of Capricorn& Tropic of Capricorn& Tropic of Capricorn

� AltitudeAltitudeAltitudeAltitude: the height of an object above the surface of the earth

� CanopyCanopyCanopyCanopy: the top layer of the forest, the trees of the forest canopy shade the layers below it

� Rain ForestRain ForestRain ForestRain Forest: tropical woodland with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches

� TropicsTropicsTropicsTropics: area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; the area is warm because receives direct sun most of the year

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� Latin America has 3 main Climate Regions

1. Tropical Climates 1. Tropical Climates 1. Tropical Climates 1. Tropical Climates – Some Caribbean islands

and much of Central and South America. Has year-

round hot temperatures and heavy rainfall.

2. Temperate Climates 2. Temperate Climates 2. Temperate Climates 2. Temperate Climates - parts of South America

south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Winters are short and

mild and summers are long, hot, and humid.

3. Dry Climates 3. Dry Climates 3. Dry Climates 3. Dry Climates – Northern Mexico, Coastal

Peru, Chile, NE Brazil, and SE Argentina. Grasses cover

partly dry steppe lands, and cacti and hardy shrubs

have adapted to harsher desert areas.

Across

3. the height of an object above the

surface of the earth

5. the top layer of the forest, the

trees of the forest canopy shade the

layers below it

7. Winters are short and mild and

summers are long, hot, and humid.

Down

1. tropical woodland with an annual rainfall

of at least 100 inches

2. Has year-round hot temperatures and

heavy rainfall.

4. Grasses cover partly dry steppe lands,

and cacti and hardy shrubs have adapted to

harsher desert areas.

6. area between the Tropic of Cancer and

the Tropic of Capricorn; the area is warm

because receives direct sun most of the

yearClimate in Latin AmericaClimate in Latin AmericaClimate in Latin AmericaClimate in Latin America

Answers come Answers come Answers come Answers come

from previous from previous from previous from previous

2 slides2 slides2 slides2 slides

�

Who remembers some of the Environmental Issues

Canada faces?

Type it in the Chat box.

� Air Pollution in Mexico City, Mexico & Santiago, Chile

� Destruction of the Rain Forest in Brazil

� Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela

� Air pollution is a problem in both

Mexico City, Mexico, and Santiago,

Chile.

� Both cities are located in areas

surrounded by mountains.

� The mountains affect the air

currents and keep the polluted air

trapped above the cities.

� In 2000, Mexico City had a

population of over 18 million.

� Overcrowding

� Industrialization

� Vehicle Emissions

� Location at base of

mountains which traps

pollution

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� Damage to vegetation

� Harm to the atmosphere

� Harm to human beings

� Harm to buildings and

ancient monuments

� Connection between Air

Pollution & Acid Rain (Remember Acid Rain from Canada Unit)

� To reduce air pollution, the city

promotes public transportation

(buses, subway).

� The city is also testing buses that

run on cleaner burning fuels.

� There are new restrictions on car

use

� City is providing workshops to

teach people about the

environment

� The Amazon River Basin is home to

the world's largest rainforest.

� Most of the rainforest is located in

Brazil.

� Home to huge variety of plants,

trees, insects, birds, and animals

including 2 ½ million different

insect species as well as over

40,000 plant species

� Produces 1/3 of Earth’s oxygen!!!

� However, it has been greatly

affected by deforestation.

� Deforestation or clear cutting is a

huge problem in the Amazon

� The land has been cleared land

to raise livestock and grow crops.

� Due to a rise in population,

people have cleared the land to

build houses and developments.

� People have cut down trees to

use for building materials.

� People have also cleared the

land for mining.

� The result of deforestation is that

much of the rain forest has been

destroyed and many animals and

plants are without a home.

� Loss of trees increases carbon

dioxide, a gas that contributes to

global warming.

� Removing trees causes soil to

become dry and less fertile since it

has no decaying leaves to add

nutrients

� Cutting down trees also causes

erosion of the land

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� In 2006, the governor of the state of

Pará in Brazil signed a law

establishing protected areas in the

Amazon.

� Unsustainable logging (cutting down

trees without replanting anything) and

slash-and-burn agriculture are

banned.

� Access to other parts of the rain

forest that can be hurt by human

interaction has been restricted.

� Only native people and scientific

researchers can enter those areas.

� Oil is an important natural resource in

Venezuela, Ecuador, and Mexico.

� The oil industry, however, often causes

environmental changes in a region.

� Oil production results in toxic wastes, air

pollution, & oil spills

� Venezuela leads South America in the

production of carbon dioxide, which is a

by-product of burning fossil fuels like

natural gas & oil.

o can cause breathing problems for children &

elderly

o contributes to global warming

� In Venezuela oil fields are located

around Lake Maracaibo.

� It is the largest lake in South America.

The lake has suffered from oil spills and

pollution.

� Oil wells have caused most of the

damage to the lake.

� Large amounts of oil have been removed

from the area so the land is changing.

o Eastern shore of the lake is dropping about

three inches a year

o Government is having to take precautions to

keep water from flooding into nearby towns

� People are becoming

aware that the cost in the

long term may be too

great.

� Groups are calling for

renewable energy sources

and the clean-up and

prevention of pollution.

�The ecology of

Brazil’s rain

forest is most

threatened by

which of these

human

activities?

A. Building dams

B. Drilling for oil

C. Cutting down trees

D. Draining swamps

�Which geographical feature found in Mexico City, Mexico, and Santiago, Chile, contributes to the high levels of air pollution in both cities?

A. Both cities are located in mountainous regions.

B. Both cities are on the coast.

C. Both cities experience extreme changes in climate.

D. Both cities are located in deserts.

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To combat air pollution, Mexico City has

started a program called Hoy No Circula,

or One Day Without a Car. The program

keeps certain cars from being driven on

certain days based on the last number

of a car's license plate. The program

also places restrictions on older cars.

Many older cars do not have the same

emissions requirements that new cars

have. What are other ways cities can

fight air pollution?

Time to LOOK BACK!

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

(signed by Canada and America) was meant

to slow pollution in the Great Lakes. It has

been renewed several times since 1972, but

it has not had as great of an effect as either

government has wanted.