Earth Science 7 North America 5

Earth Science 7-Regions

North America

On this page, we will be showing you the major weather/geographical events of Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.

United States of America

Geology

Minerals

The major minerals in the United States are coal, iron ore, copper, silver, phosphate, copper, molybdenum, talc, boron, lead, platinum, and gold. There are a lot of minerals mines on the west coast. There is a lot of lead in southwest Missouri. There is a lot of phosphate in Florida. There is a lot of talc on the east coast. There is a band of coal mines from North Dakota to upper Florida. Some metals, such as platinum, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, tin, and nickel are scarce in the US, and must be imported.

Rock Types

Sedimentary rocks are most widespread. These rocks are the result of deposition and following cementation of sediment, or are formed by chemical processes. [1]

Metamorphic rocks take a long time to change, so it's not really widespread.

Igneous rocks are near the west coast because there are lots of volcanoes there.

Latitude and Longitude

Atlanta, GA: 33° 74´ N, 84° 38´ W Chicago, IL: 41° 87´ N, 87° 62´ W Miami, FL: 25° 78´ N, 80° 22´ W Washington, DC: (capital city) 38° 89´ N, 77° 03´ W

Elevation Range

20,320 ft. (6,194 m) to (-282 ft.) (-86 m)

Highest Point

Mt. McKinley, (Alaska) 20,320 ft. (6,194 m).

Lowest Point

Death Valley, (California) (-282 ft.) (-86 m)

Large Bodies of Water

Great Salt Lake, Utah, and Lake Okeechobee, Florida.

Major Rivers

Some major rivers are: Brazos, Churchill, Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Mackenzie, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Rio Grande, St. Lawrence, and Yukon

Major Topographic Features

[2]

Significant Appalachian ranges: -The Cumberland Mts. in TN -The Blue Ridge Mts. in VA -The Alleghenies in PA -The Catskills Mts. in NY -The Green Mts. in VT -The White Mts. of NH

Significant Rocky Mountain ranges include: Absaroka, Bear River, Beaverhead, Big Belt, Big Horn, Bitterroots, Canadian, Clearwater, Columbia, Front, Guadalupe, Laramie, Lamhl, Lewis, Lost River, Medicine Bow, Monashee, Owyhee, Purcell, Sacramento, Salmon River, San Andres, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch, Shoshone, Steens, Stillwater, Swan, Tetons, Unita, Wallowa, Wasatch, Wind River, Wyoming, Zuni

Bordering Oceans

Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean

Average Monthly High/Low (Temperature in Celsius)

(In Houston Intercontinental Airport, Harris County, Texas USA)

January High: 16.1 degrees Celsius January Low: 4.2 degrees Celsius

Average Monthly Rainfall (in mm)

(In same place)

January: 98.1 mm.

Average Monthly Precipitation (in mm)

(in same place)

January: 83.5 mm.

Climate Zone (Koppen Classification System)- Bsk and Cfa

A - Tropical Climates Tropical moist climates extend north and south from the equator to about 15° to 25° latitude. In these climates all months have average temperatures greater than 64°F (18°C) and annual precipitation greater than 59".

B - Dry Climates The most obvious climatic feature of this climate is that potential evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation. These climates extend from 20°-35° North and South of the equator and in large continental regions of the mid-latitudes often surrounded by mountains.

C - Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climates This climate generally has warm and humid summers with mild winters. Its extent is from 30°50° of latitude mainly on the eastern and western borders of most continents. During the winter, the main weather feature is the mid-latitude cyclone. Convective thunderstorms dominate summer months.

D - Moist Continental Mid-latitude Climates Moist continental mid-latitude climates have warm to cool summers and cold winters. The location of these climates is poleward of the C climates. The average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 50°F (10°C), while the coldest month is less than -22°F (-30°C). Winters are severe with snowstorms, strong winds, and bitter cold from Continental Polar or Arctic air masses.

H - Highlands Unique climates based on their elevation. Highland climates occur in mountainous terrain where rapid elevation changes cause rapid climatic changes over short distances.

Bsk: Mid-latitude steppe- Mid-latitude dry. Evaporation exceeds precipitation on average but is less than potential evaporation. Average temperature is less than 64°F (18°C).

Cfa: Humid subtropical- Mild with no dry season, hot summer. Average temperature of warmest months are over 72°F (22°C). Average temperature of coldest month is under 64°F (18°C). Year around rainfall but highly variable.

Effects on the Climate

Latitude: Temperatures in the northern part of the US are generally colder than the southern part because temperatures are generally colder toward the poles.

Elevation: Temperatures are generally colder at higher elevations so temps. on the West Coast will generally be colder.

Topography: In the mountains, like the Rocky and Appalachian ranges, the topography causes the air to be colder and more humid on the windward side of the mountain than the leeward side of the mountain. The leeward side of the mountain tends to be warmer and drier.

Proximity to Water: The US is surrounded by the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. The climates on the coast will be more mild than inland because the temperature range of large bodies of water is small.

Prevailing Winds: Prevailing Westerlies move air masses like Maritime and Continental Tropical west to east. The masses create spells of either humid, warm air or hot and dry air.

Vegetation: The vegetation differs from area to area in the US. For example, in the forest areas, the climate tends to be cooler than desert regions because the trees absorb more sunlight and heat causing the ground to not be as hot. The climate in forest areas also tends to be more humid because the trees and vegetation release water vapor through transpiration.

High or Low Pressure Zone: In areas of lows, the climate is warmer and the air is less dense. In areas of highs, the air is colder and denser.

Ocean Currents: The Gulf Stream (a warm ocean current) warms the East Coast. The California stream (cool current) cools the West Coast.

Minerals in the United States

The major minerals in the United States are coal, iron, copper, silver and gold. There is a band of coal mines from North Dakota to upper Florida.

Mexico

[3]

Latitude and Longitude

30 N 81 W [4]

Elevation Range

1,500m [5]

Highest Point

Volcan Pico de Orizaba, 5,700 m [6]

Lowest Point

Laguna Salada, -10 m [7]

Largest Bodies of Water

There are no lakes in Mexico but there is the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California.[8]

Major Rivers

Rio Grande, Puebla Conchos, Usumacinta [9]

Major Topographic Features

Sierra Madre Occidental, Gulf Coastal Plain, Central Mexican Plateau, Baja Peninsula [10]

Bordering Oceans

Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea [11]

Average Monthly High/Low (Temperature Celsius)

Low= 13.3[12] High=16.1

Average Monthly Rainfall

634.3 mm [13]

Average Monthly Precipitation

70.87 mm [14] [15]

Climate

It is hot and dry in Mexico. Rain occurs on occasions but rarely. [16]

Climate Zone (Koppen Classification System)

BWh: Low-latitude desert. Evaporation exceeds precipitation on average but is less than half potential evaporation. Average temperature is more than 64°F (18°C). Frost is absent or infrequent.[17]

Effects on the Climate

[18]

Latitude: Mexico is far away from the poles and close to the equator and ITZC, so the latitude makes it hot and dry.

Elevation: Most of Mexico is at sea level (besides the mountain ranges) so it is very hot.

Topography: There are many mountain ranges in Mexico, so it is colder on the mountains, but the mountains contain less moisture.

Proximity to Water: Mexico is in between two big bodies of water. The temperature range is small near water masses, so it's either hot or not.

Prevailing Winds: Maritime Tropical winds form over the ocean and travel down to Mexico.

Vegetation: Mexico has a lot of deserts which reflect heat and it also heats up and cools down faster.

High/Low Pressure Zone: Mexico has a high pressure zone which makes storms travel away.

Ocean Currents: Warm ocean currents warm nearby coasts.

Geology

Mining Resources: [ http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/latin.html]Mexico has 3 major natural metallic minerals that are mined in Mexico. The first one is copper. Copper is located from about 500 kilometers to 10 kilometers from the ocean. It is mostly in the north-western part of Mexico. The second metallic is Iron. Iron is located from about 200 kilometers to 50 kilometers from the ocean. It is mostly in the central part of Mexico both North and South. The last metallic is silver. Silver is located in the eastern part of North and South Mexico.

Minerals: [ http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/latin.html]Mexico’s main minerals are Graphite and Gypsum. Gypsum is located on the very eastern side of the peninsula next to the Gulf of California. Graphite is on the western side of the Gulf of California.

Rock Types:[19][[20]] Mexico has a large amount of intrusive rock which is magma that cools under the crust. It is mostly on the western and eastern coasts. Mexico also has a large amount of extrusive igneous rock which is cooled lava from a volcano. Extrusive igneous rock is mostly on the western side of Mexico. Mexico also has plenty of sedimentary rocks all over, but mostly located on the eastern side of Mexico, because there are a lot of rivers and there is the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico has very little metamorphic rocks located at the very end of Mexico, near Central America, they are there because of mountain ranges and mountain building.

Canada

[21]

Latitude and Longitude

56 7 N / 106 20 W [22]

Elevation Range

5,559 m [23]

Highest Point

Mt. Logan (Yukon), 5,559 m [24]

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean, 0 m [25]

Large Bodies of Water

Hudson Bay, Baffin Bay, Labrador Sea, Beaufort Sea, Great Lakes, Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, James Bay, Lake Winnipeg, and Welland Canal [26]

Major Rivers

Ottawa River, Columbia River, St. Lawrence River, Albany River, Nelson River, Saskatchewan River, Athabasca River, Peace River, Liard River, MacKenzie River, Yukon River, and Fraser RIver [27]

Major Topographic Features

Appalachian Mts., Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Canadian Shield, Canada Cordillera, Great Plains, and Rocky Mountains [28] [29]

Bordering Oceans

Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean [30]

Climate Zone (Koppen Classification System)

ET - Northern Canada - Tundra - Polar Tundra - no true summer, Dsc - Mid-Northern Canada - Subarctic - cold, dry summer, Dfa - Southeastern Canada - Humid Continental - humid with hot summer, Csb - Western Canada - Mediterranean - mild with cool, hot summer, BSk - Mid-Southern Canada - Mid-lattitude steppe - Mid-lattitude dry [31]

Effects on the Climate

Latitude: Canada is close to the poles and far from the equator causing the temperature to be cold.

Elevation: Canada has high elevation cooling the temperatures.

Topography: Canada contains lots of mountains cooling the temperature and makes more precipitation.

Proximity to Water: The water near Canada is cool, so it cools the land.

Prevailing Winds: Prevailing Westerlies push cool, moist Maritime Polar air masses from west to East across Canada. Also, these Prevailing Westerlies push cold, dry Continental Polar air masses across southern Canada.

Vegetation: Many forests and Tundras in Canada help cool the surface contributing to cooler temperatures.

High/Low Pressure Zone: In the Polar Area of Canada, cold, dense air sinks, causing high pressure at the surface. At 60 degrees latitude in Canada warm air rises causing low pressure at the surface. Also in this area, Polar Fronts occur and it is cold.

Ocean Currents: Cool ocean currents cool nearby coasts.

[32] [33]

Citations

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/us.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/mexico/mxlatlog.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/mx.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/mexico/mxland.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/mexico/mxlandst.htm

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/latitude_and_longitude_finder.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/calandst.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/camaps.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/lgcolor/cacolor.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caland1.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caland2.htm http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/calandst.htm http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/global/climate_max.htm http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es2101/es2101page02.cfm?chapter_no=investigation http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/geography&maps/maps_vegetation.htm

Created by Maddie Shen, Daniel Perrier, Christina Ru, and Elysa Tulek.