Revision as of 12:09, 22 February 2012

Antarctica

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude: 90 degrees north Longitude: 0 degrees east

Population: 0 permanent, >1,000 nomadic

Antarctica has zero countries!

Regions:

Queen Maud Land, Graham Land, Wilkes Land, Marie Byrd Land, and Victoria Land Elevation: 7,000-8,000 Ft.

Highest Point: Vinson Massif at 16,066 ft. above sea level

Lowest Point: Lake Eyre at 52 ft. below sea level

Largest bodies of water: The Ross Sea, The Weddell Sea, The Amundsen Sea, and the Southern (south of the Atlantic) Ocean Major Topographic Features: Ross Ice Shelf, Transatlantic Mountain, Prince Charles Mountains, Ellsworth Mountains

Bordering Oceans: The Southern Ocean, also known as (the South part of) the Atlantic.

Climate: Antarctica is the coldest and windiest place on earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded was recorded in Antarctica: -129.3ºF. The average winter temperatures range from -40º to -94ºF. The average summer temperature is 20ºF. The warmest temperature that was ever recorded in Antarctica was 59ºF! Winds are commonly measured at up to 200 miles per hour. Climate Zones: Dwc- Subarctic, severe, dry winter, cool summer. Dwd- Subarctic, severe, very cold and dry winter, cool summer. ET- Tundra, polar tundra, no true summer. EF- Ice Cap, perennial ice

Latitude is Affected By Antarctica's latitude affects the temperature because the closer to the poles you get, the colder it is, and Antarctica surrounds the South pole. The interior has a very high altitude which adds to the very cold temperatures. The water surrounding Antarctica gives no warming effect to the land. The Antarctic current is a cool current, which makes the water colder near the coast of Antarctica. The cold climate of Antarctica does not allow for vegetation at all, so flora and fauna do not affect the climate.

== References: ==

[[1]

AUSTRALIA

Countries in it

Australia

Latitude and Longitude

27° 0' 0" S / 133° 0' 0" E

Elevation Range

2243 meters (7349 feet)

Highest Point

Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 meters (7,310 feet)

Lowest Point

Lake Eyre 15m (39 feet) below sea level

large bodies of water

lakes:Lake Eyre (9500km2)

Lake Torrens (5900km2) and Lake Gairdner (4300km2)

Large rivers

Murray, Darling, and Goulburn[[[2]]]

Major Topographic Features

beaches, plains, plateus, and low flat lands.

Bordering Oceans

Indian and Pacific

Average monthly temperature high and low

84 degrees F- 56 degrees F (in Sydney, Australia)

Average monthly rainfall

can range from 71 inches to 10 inches because the raifall has a lot of variation over the course of the year(in Sydney, Australia)

Average monthly precipitation

4.3 inches (over all of australia)

Climate zone

dry arid low latittudes, marine mild winter, humid subtropical, mid latittude dry, and dry arid mid-latittudes

In the cities there are many things that effect the climate. Latitude effects it by where the city is located in the latitudes it will cause the temperature to change like if it is in higher latitudes the temperature of the region will be warmer but if it is in lower lattitude the temperature will be higher, Australia is in a wide range of latitudes so the temperature varies a lot. The elevation also causes the temperature and the pressure to change. The pressure will change causing the temperature to change. The pressure changes by when you get in to higher elevation the pressure will be lower because there will be less of the atmosphere pushing down on you. The pressure can also effect the wind because of what kind of pressure system it is the air will flow in and out of it differently. The topography effects the winds, temperature, humidity, and many other climate changes. It effects the wind, like for example the wind will be stronger around a moutain or plateau because the wind will not blow through it. The proximity to water effects the humidity. When the humidity is effefcted it also effects the rainfall because if it is more humid there is more water in the air and when there is more water in the air it makeks it more likely to rain. The prevailing winds have an effect on the all around local weather of the region. Because these winds can change the ocean currents and many other things that will ultimatley effect almost every aspect of the weather in that region and if it is extreme maybe the whole world. The vegetation will effect the fauna in the region and it will effect the amount of clean air. This means if all of the vegetaion drastcly changed an indiginous animal, like a kangaroo, may have a problem living there because there might not be the same vegetaion that is crutioal to its diet. The high and low pressure zones will effect the local winds. The local winds, as i mentioned earlier with the prevailing winds, can affect all aspects of the regions weather. The ocean currents effect the temperature of the region. The western australia current is a cool current which would cause western ausrtalia's coast to have a cool climate. Although, the eastern australia current is warm so that would cause the coast fo eastern australia to have a warmer climate. There are many factors that cause weather in the city to vary.

Geology

Rock Types: Igneous: From near volcanoes, mostly along the western coast. (Because igneous rocks are formed when lava cools.) Metamorphic: Form in mountain building regions, mountains in Australia are in the inland and on the southeastern coast. Because metamorphic rocks form from heat and pressure and when mountains move it causes pressure. Sedimentary: From in rivers. Rivers in Australia are mostly inland because the sediments build up over time and make rocks. Minerals: Major minerals in Australia: Gold Iron ore nickel bauxite/aluminum copper silver uranium diamond opal zinc coal oil shale petroleum natural gas rare earth Mining: All of the minerals listed above are mined in Australia.

references

text book www.theweatherchannel.com (only used sydney australia) [[3]]

NEW ZEALAND

Region:

New Zealand

Country:

New Zealand

Latitude and Longitude:

41 degrees South and 174 degrees East

Elevation range:

Lowest- Pacific Ocean (0 m), Highest- Mont Panie (1,628 m)

Large Bodies of water:

Lakes: Lake Taupo, Lake Wakatipu, Lake Te Anau, Lake Ellesmere, Lake Wanaka

20 Longest Rivers: Waikato, Clutha, Wanganui, Taieri, Rangitkei, Mataura, Waiau, Waitaki, Clarence, Oreti, Rangitaki, Manawatu, Buller, Thames, Mohaka, Wairau, Waiau, Waimakariri, Whangaehu, Ngaruroro

All rivers: [[4]]

Bordering Oceans:

Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean

Major Topographical Features:

Volcanoes: Mount Egmont, Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro

Mountains:(group) The Southern Alps

Topographic map: [[5]]

Tectonic Plate location

New Zealand is located on top of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, balanced between them.

Climate:

Climate Zone: Cfa, meaning New Zealand is humid subtropical, mild with no dry season, and hot summers. The average temperature of the warmest months are over 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius), and the average temperature of the coldest months are lower than 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). There is year around rainfall but it is highly variable.

Maps of average temperature and rainfall: [[6]]

Average Rainfall (in one year): Between 640mm and 1500m

Averages of the monthly rainfall, temperature, wind run, and sunshine in every area of New Zealand: [[7]]

Average monthly temperatures (Celsius): January:18.9, February:18.8, March:16.8, April:14.2, May:11.0, June:8.5, July:7.9, August:9.1, September:10.9, October:13.3, November:15.4, December:17.5

Average Monthly Rainfall (mm): January:65, February:64, March:63, April:70, May:86, June:82, July:90, August:77, September:54, October:56, November:51, December:55

Monthly rainfall and temperature will vary some.

Variables affecting climate: There are lots of variables that affect the climate of New Zealand. One variable is the ocean currents. They bring warm water down from the equator, warming the island. Also, the prevailing winds known as the Westerlies bring warmer air from the equator as it travels south, and the topography affects the climate as well, for if you are higher up, the air will cool and not be able to hold as much water. The same will happen with higher elevation. As New Zealand is an island and surrounded by water, there is more humidity in the air, causing precipitation and changes in temperature. There are also sea breezes, which cool the land. All the vegetation in New Zealand cause changes in temperature, air pressure, and the amount of oxygen in the air. The latitude causes temperature change, one reason because different latitudes get different amounts of sunlight. The high or low pressure zones determine the winds, changing temperature and pressure. Many variables cause the climate and weather to change, as these are only a few examples.

Geology

Rocks: Coal (The South Island lignite deposits accounted for 80% of the country’s coal resources), Minerals: Aggregate and Gold account for 80% of the total value of the mineral resources. There is also iron sand, silver, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, steel, Mining: Aggregate and Gold together account for 80% of the total value of New Zealand's mineral resources. Gold, iron sand, and silver were major metallic commodities that made a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy.

References: ^[1]; [[8]]; [[9]]; [[http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/rivers.html ]]; [[10]] [[11]]; [[12]]

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