Mexico
One of the most physically diverse countries in the world!
Introduction to Mexico
The Capital of Mexico
Seasons of Mexico
The unique seasons of Mexico
Instead of the normal four seasons, (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Summer) Mexico has a dry and wet season. During the dry season, there is little rain and the air is warm and dry. During the wet season, the air is very hot and humid. When the earth tilts, sunrays are shown in different places. This shifts the tropical rain belt, creating either wet or dry seasons in the year.
Wet and dry season
As you can see, the picture on the left shows the wet season. On the right, there is a picture of the dry season.
Tropical rain belt
In the map, you can see the tropical rain belt. In the beginning of the year, the tropical rain belt is lower. In the middle of the year, the tropical rain belt is higher.
Physical features of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
Water moved into a dip in the land and was drawn in by currents.
Guadalupe Island
A volcano underwater erupted, creating the island.
Sierra Madre Occidental Mountain Range
Volcanoes on the ground erupted, creating the mountain range.
Chihuahuan Desert
Many trees were cut down, resulting in desertification.
Baja California Peninsula
Land was separated because of tectonic plates, creating a peninsula.
Valley of Mexico
Wind flattened and wore away land, creating a valley.
Mexico Central Plateau
Underground forces pushed up the land and created a plateau.
Manzanillo Bay
Water forced itself into the land, creating a bay.
East Cape of Baja
Glaciers melted and pushed sediments into a cape.
Climate Types of Mexico
Desert
Deserts are located where they are because they receive little to no rainfall.
Steppe
Steppes are located near mountain barriers because they are too dry to become a rainforest, but are not dry enough to become a desert.
Savanna
Savannas are similar to grasslands but with trees. There is enough rainfall to grow scattered trees and other vegetation.
Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests are located near or on the equator because that is where air condenses into clouds, creating much precipitation.
Biomes of Mexico
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical rainforests are very hot and humid throughout the entire year and are located near the equator. This is because the ecosystem has high temperatures and high rainfall.
Desert
Deserts are very dry, and has little rainfall. Animals living in deserts must store and conserve water because there is little water in these ecosystems.
Grassland
Grasslands are flat areas of land with few trees. They have warm summers
and cool winters in which the grass dies back down to the roots protected under soil and sod.
Natural Disasters in Mexico
Hurricanes (Tropical Cyclones)
Warm and moist air rises. As the warm area rises, the surrounding air swirls in to take its place. As the warm and moist air cools off, clouds are created. The clouds and wind grows, creating a hurricane, or a tropical cyclone.
Floods
Large amounts of rainfall creates an abundance of water, causing a flood. Also, global warming melts ice. As the ice melts, more water is creating, causing the water level to rise.
Earthquakes
Bibliography
1. "Climate Controls." Climate Controls. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
2. "Earthquakes." GeoTopics @ GeoNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
3. "Natural Disasters." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
4. "Teachers' Domain: Biomes." Teachers' Domain: Biomes. NASA's Earth Observatory, 2006. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
5. "Tornadoes and Hurricanes." GeoTopics @ GeoNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
6. Williams, Paige. "Learn the Scientific Reasons behind Earth's Seasons." Msnbc.com. N.p., 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.