Revision as of 09:53, 22 February 2012

Earth Science 7-Global Regions Index

Middle East

The Middle East is a region of the world east of Africa yet west of China. The Middle East is technically not defined as a continent, it is a part of Asia.

Latitude and Longitude Ranges

46N and 14N longitude. 78E and 27E latitude

Elevation Range

HIghest: 5610.148m above sea level (Mt. Damavand) Lowest: 396.24m below sea level (Dead Sea)

Bodies of Water

The Bodies of Water in the Middle East include:

• Indian Ocean
• Arabian Sea
• Gulf of Aden
• Caspian Sea
• Persian Gulf
• Gulf of Oman
• Red Sea
• Black Sea
• Mediterranean Sea
• Jordan River
• Dead Sea
• Euphrates River
• Tigris River

Bordering Oceans

• Indian Ocean

Map of Ocean Surface Temperatures (Celsius)



Water

Since water sources are becoming increasingly scarce, a majority of the Middle East's sanitary drinking water comes from desalinization the ocean.

Currents

The currents around the Middle East are:

• North Equatorial Current
• Equatorial Countercurrent

Salinity

The Middle East has many Salt Lakes, like the Dead Sea. Not coincidentally, the Middle East also has many near landlocked lakes - lakes that have no tributaries or rivers flowing outward/inward. The Dead Sea, as with many Salt Lakes, has little water flowing into or out of it.

Topographic Features



• Zagros Mts
• Elburz Mts
• Caucasus Mts
• Rub Al Khali Desert

Oil and Gas Deposits



Historically, the Middle East has had many oil and gas deposits

Minerals

File:World-mineral-map.jpg

Climate

Historically, the Middle East has had an arid climate with mild winters. Climate is hot and dry. Winters are mild with some rain. Hot desert conditions induce a strong seasonal wind pattern in the region, known as the monsoon (Arabic for season).

Koppen Climate Designation

The Middle Eastern Climate Types are:

• BSk (steppe with mean annual temperature under 18 d. Celsius)
• BWk (desert with mean annual temperature under 18 d. Celsius)
• BWh (desert with mean annual temperature over 18 d. Celsius)
• Csa (Mediterranean with hottest month over 22 d. Celsius)
• Aw (hot, dry tropical, savanna)
• As (moist tropical, with dry season)

Map of World Climate



Map



Links/References

[1] (Countries)(Oceans)
[2] (Bodies of Water)
[3] (Climate)
[4] (Climate Map)
[5] (Types of Climates)
[6] (Currents)
[7] (Ocean teamperatures)

Links

[8] (About the Köppen Climate Classification System)

http://wiki.sjs.org/wiki/index.php?title=Earth_Science_7_-_Middle_East2&action=edit&section=13