Identify the natural region from each description: (a) Permafrost, mosses, lichens, no trees, Arctic fringe. (b) Hot dry summer, mild wet winter, olives and citrus. (c) Hot, wet all year, dense rainforest with 3 layers, Amazon and Congo. (d) Long cold winter, coniferous trees, Canada and Siberia. Then explain why the leeward side of a mountain range is drier than the windward side.

Question

Accepted Answer

NATURAL REGIONS: (a) TUNDRA — Arctic fringe (northern Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Scandinavia, northern Russia). Characterised by permafrost (permanently frozen subsoil), very low temperatures, and no trees because the frost line is near the surface. Vegetation: mosses, lichens, sedges. (b) MEDITERRANEAN REGION — e.g. southern Spain, Italy, Greece, California, Cape Town. Hot, dry summers due to subtropical high pressure. Mild, wet winters due to westerly winds. Vegetation: evergreen shrubs (maquis/chaparral), olive trees, grapevines, citrus fruits. (c) EQUATORIAL REGION — Amazon Basin (South America), Congo Basin (Africa), SE Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia). Temperature ~27°C year-round. Rainfall 2000+ mm/year, with no dry season. Dense, multi-layered rainforest (canopy layer, understory, ground layer). Greatest biodiversity on Earth. (d) TAIGA (Boreal/Coniferous Forest) — Canada, Siberia (Russia), Scandinavia. Long, severe winters. Short, cool summers. Coniferous trees (pine, spruce, fir) with needle leaves adapted to shed snow. OROGRAPHIC RAINFALL (WHY LEEWARD SIDE IS DRIER): Moist air from the ocean approaches a mountain range. As air is forced to rise up the WINDWARD SIDE (facing the wind), it COOLS. Cool air holds less moisture. Water vapour CONDENSES → CLOUDS form → RAIN falls on the windward side. By the time the air crosses the mountain top, most of its moisture has been LOST as rainfall on the windward slope. The air descends on the LEEWARD SIDE (away from the wind). Descending air WARMS and its relative humidity FALLS. The leeward side receives little or no rain — this area is called a RAIN SHADOW. Example: The Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall (Cherrapunji/Western coast) but the Deccan Plateau (leeward) is drier.

Practice — Geography — Earth's Structure, Landforms, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere & Natural Regions

Sign in to save attempts to your dashboard and track your accuracy over time

Find a verified tutor

Join a live course

Browse coaching centres

About

Categories

Support

Documentation

Get Study Tips & Updates

Download Our App

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Popular Cities