Under latitudinal zonality(geographical, landscape) understand the regular change in physical and geographical processes natural ingredients, as well as NTC from the equator to the poles. The main reason for zoning is the uneven distribution of the short-wave radiation of the Sun over latitude, due to the sphericity of the Earth. Therefore, two conditions are sufficient for latitudinal zonality:
Uneven distribution of solar radiation
The sphericity of the earth
The latitudinal distribution of solar radiation is not always subject to mathematical calculations. For each of the latitudes, there are also calculations that clearly show a decrease in the number towards the poles. The distribution of solar energy depends on astronomical quantities:
Distance to the sun. The earth is well positioned in relation to the sun.
Earth mass affects the nature of the zoning. The mass of the earth holds the atmosphere with the help of the core, in which there is a lot of metal, and the atmosphere redistributes the radiant energy. The moon is devoid of atmosphere.
The inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of the ecliptic (66.5 o). This angle determines the uneven distribution of solar energy over the seasons, which complicates the zonal distribution of heat and moisture and sharpens zonal contrasts. If the earth's axis were perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, then each parallel would receive almost the same amount of solar heat throughout the year, and seasonal phenomena would not appear.
Earth's daily rotation causes the deviation of moving bodies, including air masses in the northern hemisphere - to the right, and in the southern hemisphere - to the left (Coriolis force).
The heterogeneous structure of the Earth the presence of continents, large and small islands, oceans, water areas, a variety of rocks (by strength - rocks and loose rocks), a variety of land relief, covering the territory with glaciers, all this causes disturbances in the distribution of solar energy.
Consequently, the mechanism of geographic zoning is very complex and manifests itself ambiguously in different parts of the geographical envelope, in various components and constituent parts it, as well as in various processes occurring within the geographic envelope.
The first result of the zonal distribution of radiant energy is the ZONALITY of the RADIATION BALANCE on the Earth's surface. Maximum total radiation falls on the 20-30th latitudes in both hemispheres, because the atmosphere here is transparent, the radiant energy entering the surface of the Earth and converted into thermal energy, is spent on evaporation and heat transfer to the atmosphere. Another important regularity that depends on the uneven distribution of heat is the AIR MASS ZONALITY, ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION AND MOISTURE CYCLE.
Air masses:
Equatorial (warm and humid)
Tropical (warm and dry)
Moderate (dry and wet, cool)
Antarctic, arctic (cold, dry)
Air masses heat up differently, therefore, they have different densities and there is a violation of thermodynamic equilibrium in the troposphere and, as a result, the circulation of air masses. If the Earth did not rotate around its axis, then the circulation of air masses would be primitive, i.e. in the northern hemisphere, air masses would have a direction from north to south, and in the southern hemisphere, from south to north. But as a result of the Coriolis force, circulation zones are formed, which correspond to the zonal types of air masses:
equatorial zone- low pressure, ascending air currents, calm prevails.
tropical zone- high pressure, the predominance of the eastern rhumb of air masses, which change in the northern hemisphere to the northeast, and in the south - to the southeast.
temperate zone– low pressure, western air transport.
polar zone- low pressure, easterly winds.
Transition zones: subarctic, subtropical, subequatorial. In which in summer the circulation shifts in accordance with the hemisphere to the pole, and in winter to the equator. In landscape science, 7 circulation zones are distinguished.
Atmospheric circulation is a mechanism for the redistribution of heat and moisture. If this pattern did not exist, then the globe there would be sharp boundaries between all zonal, temperature differences. The zonal distribution of solar heat is reflected by the distribution of the planet's thermal zones:
Hot– average annual temperature >20 o
2 moderate
2 cold when the temperature of the warmest month< +10 о.
Inside the cold belt, areas of eternal frost (ice zones) are distinguished when the temperature of the warmest month is below 0.
Zonal circulation of the atmosphere is associated with moisture and moisture circulation. Moisture circulation and humidification have their own zonal specifics when maxima are distinguished in the distribution of precipitation (usually there are 3 of them) - one at the equator, 2 in temperate latitudes. 4 minima - 2 in the polar latitudes, 2 in the tropics. The amount of precipitation does not determine the conditions for the moisture supply of landscapes (in the steppes up to 500 mm, but moisture is insufficient, and in the tundra 300-350 mm, moisture is excessive). Therefore, the moisture content is affected by the moisture coefficient.
The relief is also subject to zonality, but mainly morphosculptural types of relief, which are formed under the influence of exogenous processes, and they do not appear everywhere in the same way, depending on climatic conditions. Groundwater is also subject to the process of zonality. At the same depth, for example, they are located in the zone of broad-leaved foxes and steppes, they can differ in different degrees of mineralization, which are determined by different ways of feeding groundwater, different degrees of evaporation. Thus, zoning is a universal geographical regularity, which manifests itself in all landscape-forming processes and in the distribution of natural complexes on earth's surface.
Zoning must be considered in historical terms, because. it has evolved over hundreds of millions of years of geological history. The most ancient are the equatorial landscapes, which have existed since the middle of the Paleozoic. Many landscapes were influenced by the Paleogene-Neogene stages of development, especially in temperate latitudes. Pleistocene glaciation, when periods of glacial and interglacial periods were observed, the boundaries of landscapes shifted. The youngest natural zone yavl. Tundra zone. When considering the patterns of latitudinal zonality, the most important factor is the macro climatic conditions. The most inert factor is considered geological structure and relief.
Types and classes of landscapes
The type of landscapes depends on zonal features, the most important of which are the ratios of heat and moisture, which determine the regime of surface and ground waters, the nature and direction of the main natural processes, the composition and structure of phyto- and zoocenoses. The types are tundra, forest, forest-steppe, desert and other landscapes. A.G. Isachenko considers the type of landscapes to be the highest unit of classification, and the class of landscapes is subordinate to the type.
To isolate the genus of landscapes, V.A. Nikolaev puts forward the genetic type of relief as the main criterion, and G.I. Yurenkov - provincial features of landscape types (Eastern European landscapes of mixed forests, Far Eastern landscapes of mixed forests, etc.).
Landscape type is the smallest unit of classification, distinguished either by the genetic features of the territory (A.G. Isachenko, N.L. Beruchashvili, G.I. Yurenkov), or by the structure of dominant tracts (V.A. Nikolaev).
Along with the listed basic units of landscape classification, there are intermediate ones - subclass, subtype, subgenus, subspecies, etc. For example, in the class of plains there may be subclasses of elevated and lowland landscapes; in the forest type - subtypes of northern taiga, middle taiga, southern taiga landscapes. The separation of such categories is dictated by the collected and elaborated material, the degree of its detail and reliability, and the scale of the map. Like the main ones, intermediate units occupy a strictly defined place in the taxonomic system and obey all the rules of classification.
Any classification presupposes some formalization, ordering and generalization of concepts. To the greatest extent, generalization is inherent in the highest units of classification (departments, classes, types). Their differentiation is made according to the most important, essential features, against which the diversity of subordinates only emphasizes the complexity. internal structure large PTK. The minimum degree of generalization is characteristic of landscape types as relatively homogeneous sections.
The first classification of Belarusian landscapes was published by V.A. Dementiev and G.I. Martsinkevich in 1968. The main principle of classification was genetic. Its main drawback is the lack of a clear system of classification units.
The modern classification of landscapes of the Republic of Belarus has been developed in relation to a map at a scale of 1:600 OOO (authors N.K. Klitsunova, G.I. Martsinkevich, L.V. Loginova, G.T. Kharanicheva, scientific editor A.G. Isachenko), published in 1984. It takes into account the experience of researchers, embodied in the creation of landscape maps of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Lithuania, the Non-Chernozem center of Russia. The highest classification unit is the class of landscapes. The territory of Belarus is entirely located within the East European platform with a flat relief and a clearly defined structure of latitudinal zones, therefore its landscapes belong to the class of flat ones. The next unit - the type of landscapes - is singled out taking into account bioclimatic factors. The position of the territory of Belarus in temperate latitudes with favorable conditions for the growth of forests predetermined that its NTC belongs to the temperate continental forest type of landscapes. At the same time, the length of the territory from north to south for more than 500 km is due to changes in the hydrothermal regime in this direction. On this basis, two subtypes of landscapes are distinguished: subtaiga (mixed-forest) and woodland (broad-leaved-forest). The first subtype covers the northern and central, the second - the southern parts of the republic. The border between them runs along the northern outskirts of the Belarusian Polissya.
The geographic envelope is not tripled in the same way everywhere, it has a "mosaic" structure and consists of separate natural complexes (landscapes). Natural complex - it is a part of the earth's surface with relatively homogeneous natural conditions: climate, topography, soils, waters, flora and fauna.
Each natural complex consists of components between which there are close, historically established relationships, while a change in one of the components sooner or later leads to a change in others.
The largest, planetary natural complex is the geographic shell; it is subdivided into natural complexes of a smaller rank. The division of the geographical shell into natural complexes is due to two reasons: on the one hand, differences in the structure earth's crust and the heterogeneity of the earth's surface, and on the other hand, the unequal amount of solar heat received by its various parts. In accordance with this, zonal and azonal natural complexes are distinguished.
The largest azonal natural complexes are continents and oceans. Smaller - mountainous and flat areas within the continents (West Siberian Plain, Caucasus, Andes, Amazonian lowland). The latter are subdivided into even smaller natural complexes (Northern, Central, Southern Andes). Natural complexes of the lowest rank include individual hills, river valleys, their slopes, etc.
The largest of the zonal natural complexes - geographic zones. They coincide with climatic zones and have the same names (equatorial, tropical, etc.). In turn, geographical zones consist of natural zones, which are distinguished by the ratio of heat and moisture.
natural area called a large land area with similar natural components - soils, vegetation, wildlife, which are formed depending on the combination of heat and moisture.
The main component of the natural zone is the climate, because all other components depend on it. Vegetation has a great influence on the formation of soils and wildlife and is itself dependent on soils. Natural zones are named according to the nature of the vegetation, since it most obviously reflects other features of nature.
The climate naturally changes as you move from the equator to the poles. soil, vegetation and animal world determined by climate. This means that these components should change latitudinally, following climate change. The regular change of natural zones when moving from the equator to the poles is called latitudinal zoning. Moist equatorial forests are located near the equator, and icy Arctic deserts are located near the poles. Between them are other types of forests, savannas, deserts, tundra. Forest zones, as a rule, are located in areas where the ratio of heat and moisture is balanced (equatorial and most of the temperate zone, the eastern coasts of the continents in the tropical and subtropical zone). Treeless zones are formed where there is a lack of heat (tundra) or moisture (steppes, deserts). These are the continental regions of the tropical and temperate zones, as well as the subarctic climatic zone.
The climate changes not only latitudinally, but also due to changes in altitude. As you climb up the mountains, the temperature drops. Up to a height of 2000-3000 m, the amount of precipitation increases. A change in the ratio of heat and moisture causes a change in the soil and vegetation cover. Thus, unequal natural zones are located in the mountains at different heights. This pattern is called altitudinal zonation.
The change of altitudinal belts in the mountains occurs approximately in the same sequence as on the plains, when moving from the equator to the poles. At the foot of the mountains there is a natural zone in which they are located. The number of altitudinal belts is determined by the height of the mountains and their geographic location. The higher the mountains, and the closer they are to the equator, the more diverse the set of altitudinal zones. The most complete vertical zonality is expressed in the Northern Andes. Moist equatorial forests grow in the foothills, then comes the belt mountain forests, and even higher - thickets of bamboos and tree ferns. With an increase in altitude and a decrease in average annual temperatures, coniferous forests appear, which are replaced by mountain meadows, often turning, in turn, into stony placers covered with moss and lichens. The tops of the mountains are crowned with snow and glaciers.
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Class: 7
Lesson Objectives:
- to continue the formation of a worldview idea about the integrity of the geographic envelope of the Earth;
- introduction and development of the concepts “moisture coefficient”, “geographical belt”, “latitudinal zonation”, “altitude zonation”.
Lesson objectives:
- develop the ability to generalize knowledge, draw logical conclusions;
- continue the formation of skills and abilities to work with geographical maps, analyze statistical materials.
Methods and techniques:
- verbal (teacher's story, conversation),
- visual (computer),
- partially exploratory and research.
Lesson type: combined.
Teaching aids: textbook, wall map “Natural zones of the world”, map of the atlas “Geographical belts and natural zones”, disk “Geography. Land and people” (p. 34).
Lesson form: lesson using ICT.
During the classes
I. Organizational moment.
II. Knowledge update. On the this stage there is a conversation with students on the topics “Natural complexes” (grade 6) and “Climate of the Earth” (grade 7) on the following issues:
- What are the components of the geographic envelope?
- What does a change in at least one of them lead to? Give examples.
- What is a natural area?
- According to the appearance of what natural component is the name given to the natural area?
- What kind climatic zones exist on earth?
- What is the main reason for the diversity of climates?
A table is shown to help students ( slide) “Incoming solar energy to the Earth's surface at different geographical latitudes (per year)”.
At the end of the conversation and discussion of the table, the teacher, together with the students, draws a conclusion.
The sun heats the spherical surface of the Earth differently: the areas above which it stands high receive the most heat. The farther from the equator, the greater the angle of the rays reaching the earth's surface and, consequently, less thermal energy per unit area. Above the poles, the Sun's rays only glide over the Earth. The climate depends on this: hot at the equator, harsh and cold at the poles. In almost every climatic zone of land, the oceanic parts are better moistened than the continental ones. Humidification also depends on the ratio of heat and moisture.
Students analyze the table slide) “Average annual indicators of natural zones”.
III. Learning new material.
Teacher. Humidification depends not only on the amount of precipitation, but also on the ratio of heat and moisture. The warmer it is, the more moisture that has fallen with precipitation evaporates. The same amount of precipitation can lead to excessive moisture in one zone and insufficient moisture in another. So, the annual amount of precipitation of 150-200 mm in the cold tundra is excessive (bogs are formed), and in hot tropical deserts it is sharply insufficient: slide “Moisture coefficient by natural zones”.
Slide “Humidification coefficient, definition”, students write in a notebook. Students look at the drawings slide“Humidity Coefficient and Natural Areas of the World”.
The teacher draws a conclusion (students write it in a notebook): a regular change in the components of nature and natural complexes when moving from the equator to the poles is a planetary law of geographical zoning, which was deduced by the great Russian scientist V.V. Dokuchaev. The largest zonal subdivisions of the geographic envelope are geographic belts. Slide“Geographical zone, definition” students write in a notebook.
Natural zones are formed within geographic zones. Students listen to the speaker slide) “Natural area, definition”. The teacher focuses the attention of students on the fact that the change of natural zones on land is subject to the laws of geographical zoning. The regular change in natural components and natural complexes from the equator to the poles is latitudinal zonality (students write the definition in a notebook).
Teacher. Give examples of latitudinal zonality.
Students work with the map of the atlas "Geographical zones and natural zones of the world" and interactive map of the Disk"Natural areas of the world", looking for answers to textbook questions, p.35 "My geographical research".
Discussion of the results of work with the atlas and the textbook. The teacher draws the attention of students to the meridional location of natural areas on the example North America considering slide“Examples of submeridional strike of natural zones”.
Teacher. In the mountains, latitudinal zonality gives way to altitudinal zonality. This is due to the specific natural conditions of the mountains:
- change in temperature with height,
- influence of slope exposure, various
- moistening of windward and leeward slopes.
The regular change of natural zones and vegetation with height is called altitudinal zonation (the definition is written in a notebook).
Students analyze slide p.90 “Altitude zonation in the Northern Andes”.
The teacher, together with the students, concludes: the nature of altitudinal zonation depends on the height of the mountains and on the natural zone in which they are located. The altitudinal belts in the mountains successively change in height, similar to the change in natural zones on the plain. The lower altitude zone in the mountains will correspond to the natural zone in which the foot of the mountains is located.
Teacher. Natural zones are also formed in the World Ocean.
Students analyze the tables of the slide “Latitudinal zones of the World Ocean”, conclude: properties surface water, the composition of vegetation and fauna change from the equator to the poles.
IV. The final part of the lesson.
The teacher reinforces students' knowledge of the topic by asking them to identify how the natural areas of Africa are changing. Students work with maps of the atlas “Africa. Natural wealth”, p.50, slide“Natural areas of Africa”, p.68.
The teacher assesses the knowledge and skills of students. Gives marks.
v. Homework: §9, section “Formation of natural areas”, simulator p.12, No. 8.
MOU OOSH p. Osanovo-DubovoeMASTER CLASS
by geography
7th grade
topic:
"NATURAL ZONING"
Geography teacher
MOU OOSH p. Osanovo-Dubovoe
Ligotskaya S.I.
2010
Target: to study the reasons for the formation of natural zones on Earth, the peculiarity of their location on land and in the Ocean.
Tasks:
1. To form the main patterns and reasons for the formation of natural zones from climate, geological history of the continents, relief, human activity;
2. develop the ability to analyze, compare statistical materials, different types maps (map of climatic zones and regions of the world and natural zones of the world);
Based on the analysis, draw conclusions, generalizations.
3. to cultivate an ecological outlook when studying the impact of human activity on natural areas and the formation of anthropogenic natural sets.
Equipment:
1) map of climatic zones and regions of the world;
2) map of natural zones of the Earth;
4) exercise book;
5) workbook;
6) an electronic supplement to the textbook.
During the classes.
1. Purpose and objectives of the lesson.
1) Why are natural zones formed inside geographic zones?
2) What influences the distribution and characteristics of natural areas?
2. In order to answer these questions, let's recall the 6th grade material on the topic "Natural complexes" and some data on the topic "Climates of the Earth".
1) What is a natural complex? (A stable set of natural components that has developed in a certain area).
2) Give examples of natural complexes, different in size, starting with the largest.
The largest natural complex is the geographic region. Natural complexes of the second order - land and the oceans. The same large natural complexes of individual continents and oceans, on which natural or geographical belts are formed, in them are natural zones, and on the territories of natural zones are small: swamp, lake, ravine, pine forest, etc.
The diagram is posted:
Geographic
shell
Swamps, lake, ravine, pine forest, etc.
The purpose of our lesson answer the question "Why natural zones are formed within geographic zones."
The geographic zone is (Slide No. 1 - cartoon video). As you can see, the names of geographical zones coincide with what names? (climatic zones).
And what is the reason for the formation of different climatic zones on earth? (The formation of climatic zones depends on geographical latitude, movement of air masses and the nature of the underlying surface).
Which climatic factor does it change with geographic latitude? (Temperature, which depends on the amount of solar energy entering the Earth's surface). Slide 2 - the flow of solar energy to the surface of the Earth.
Then why don't the boundaries of climatic zones run strictly along parallels? What determines another very important climatic factor, moisture? (The climate is greatly influenced by air masses, the underlying surface, this is the proximity or distance from the ocean, relief, sea currents, ice cover. Therefore, regions are formed inside the climatic zones).
Give examples.
Students on the map of climatic zones show areas of temperate, subtropical, tropical zones.
And the moistening of the territory depends only on the amount of precipitation. For example, 200 mm per year falls in the subarctic climate zone and in the tropical one. But in the subarctic, moisture is excessive, and in the tropics it is scarce. What does it depend on? (On temperature. The higher the temperature, the more moisture evaporates, practically nothing remains in the ground, therefore, in the tropical zone, moisture is scarce, and in the subarctic zone, temperatures are low, little moisture evaporates, so moisture is excessive).
Let's return to the scheme: natural zones are formed within the geographical zones, the names of which coincide with the names of the climatic zones.
Slide number 3 - the definition of "natural zone".
Slide number 4 - the names of natural areas and their location.
3.
And now, in order to answer the question "Why are natural zones formed inside geographic zones?", let's do practical work in workbooks, p.18.
Target: identify the relationship between the location of climates and natural zones of the world based on the analysis of maps of climatic zones and maps of natural zones.
Based on this comparison and analysis, fill in the 2nd table in the workbook. Show the change in climatic zones and natural zones at 20 o E. and 50 about s.sh.
The student shows 20 0 east. and 50 0 s.l. on the cards on the board.
The students do the work on their own. (5 minutes)
Examination: corrected with a red pen.
Now draw a conclusion based on the comparison of these cards.
The conclusion is read out: (Each climatic zone and region has its own natural zone. The reason for their change from N to S and from W to E. is different amount heat-to-moisture ratio).
THEN. there is a certain regularity in the distribution of natural zones on the earth's surface. Natural zones, like climatic zones, cover our entire planet, ranging from the equator to the poles, but also azonal in temperate, subtropical and tropical zones, their alternation depends on the amount of solar heat and precipitation.
And now, according to the map of the natural zones of the world and according to the figure, where statistical data are given, determine which natural zones prevail on each continent.
Answer the questions p.21. and to the questions of the textbook p.35 "My geographical research".
Independent work of students.
Examination. Correction with a red pen.
4. The location of natural areas on the continents are violated by mountains.
Slide - altitudinal zonality.
Performing work on the control sheet:
1) Latitudinal zonality is………………………………………….
2) Altitudinal zoning is………………………………………….
3) Form a pattern: the higher and closer to the equator of the mountain, the ……………….high-altitude belts. The lower and farther from the equator the mountains, the……………………high-altitude zones.
4. In which mountains the number of altitudinal zones is greater:
5. Natural zones are also formed in the World Ocean: from the equator to the poles, the properties of surface waters, the composition of the flora and fauna change.
Slide - natural areas of the ocean.
Slides - the fauna of the equatorial temperate and polar regions of the ocean.
There is also vertical zonality: surface, middle and deep waters.
However, oceanic natural complexes do not have pronounced external differences.
6.
In the same natural areas on different continents, vegetation and fauna have similar features.
Taiga, mixed forest of North America and Eurasia are similar. There are similarities in the steppes of North America and Eurasia, the prairies of North America and the pampas of South America.
At the same time, in addition to climate, other factors also influence the peculiarity of the distribution of plants and animals: the geological history of the mainland, relief and features rocks, human.
The unification and separation of the continents, the change in their relief and climate in the geological past, became the reason that in similar natural conditions, but on different continents, different types of plants and animals live.
Slide African savannas - characteristic: giraffes, zebras, ostriches, leopards; plants: acacias, oil palms, baobabs, doom palms, cereals, up to 2-3 meters high.
Slide - South American savannas - nandu bird, small deer, baker pigs, armadillos, anteaters; the plant world is poorer: low-growing trees and shrubs studded with thorns, hard grasses, cacti, low acacias, and mimosas are common.
per composition organic world The mainland is strongly influenced by the time of separation of the mainland from the rest of the land.
Thus, the separation of Australia from Gondwana occurred before the appearance of tall mammals on Earth. This led to the flowering of marsupial and egg-laying marsupial mammals in Australia.
Slides - the animal world of Australia.
On each continent there are endemic species peculiar only to this continent.
7. Under the influence of human activity, the geographical envelope and natural zones undergo changes, natural complexes are transformed into natural-anthropogenic and even completely anthropogenic.
Slides are anthropogenic and natural complexes.
What anthropogenic and natural-anthropogenic complexes arose in our area.
We finish the diagram that is placed on the wall:
natural area
But in these places there is a lot of peat, a combustible substance, so fires can easily break out in hot summers.
We all need to be very careful in this regard, not to allow fires to be kindled, not to throw unextinguished cigarettes, as you know that peat fires are very terrible.
It is still possible to solve this problem at the level of the district leadership, for example, watering peat fields, we call them maps, removing locks from the ditches that were dug to drain the swamps, so swamps will form here again in a few years. Nature will restore itself.
8. To consolidate what we have learned, we will perform test work through multi-video.
9. Analysis of students' answers and their work in the lesson.
10. Homework: Describe the natural area according to the plan:
1) Geographic location.
2) Climatic conditions.
4) Vegetation.
5) Animal world.
Describing a natural area, reveal the relationships between the components of its nature.
Use maps in the atlas, additional sources, books in the library, the Internet.
1) Remember what a natural zone is.
A natural complex is a part of the earth's surface with relatively homogeneous natural conditions.
2) What are the patterns in the placement of natural zones of the Earth?
The location of natural zones is closely related to climatic zones. Like climatic zones, they naturally replace each other from the equator to the poles due to a decrease in solar heat entering the Earth's surface and uneven moistening. Such a change in natural zones - large natural complexes is called latitudinal zonality. The change of natural zones, as you know, occurs not only on the plains, but also in the mountains - from the foot to their peaks. With altitude, temperature and pressure decrease, up to a certain height, the amount of precipitation increases, and lighting conditions change. In connection with the change in climatic conditions, there is also a change in natural zones.
3) What natural zones are located in Eurasia?
Arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe and steppe, semi-desert and desert.
4) What sources of geographic information can be used to characterize a natural area?
Observations geographical maps, meteorological data.
*From the figure, determine how natural areas are located in our country. Why do not all zones extend from the western to the eastern outskirts of the country? What zones are located only in the European part of the country? How can this be explained?
The location of natural zones is closely related to climatic zones. Like climatic zones, they replace each other from the equator to the poles due to a decrease in solar heat entering the Earth's surface and uneven moistening. In Russia, from north to south, the following natural zones replace each other - arctic deserts and semi-deserts, tundra and forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, forest-steppes and steppes, variable-moist forests, deserts and semi-deserts. Not all natural zones extend from western to eastern borders countries. This is due to the fact that Russia has a large latitudinal elongation and climatic conditions change with advancement inland. Only in the European part is there a natural zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests. This can be explained by the fact that in inland areas there is not enough moisture to form forests.
Questions in a paragraph
*There are evergreens in the tundra. How do you explain this fact? Name the representatives of the flora and fauna of the tundra known to you. Consider how they adapt to harsh climates.
There are many evergreens in the tundra. Such plants can be used sunlight immediately, as soon as they are freed from under the snow, without wasting time and energy on the formation of new foliage. Flora - mosses, lichens, shrubs - crowberry, bearberry, wild rosemary, dwarf birch, willow. Tundra plants have peculiar forms that help them the best way take advantage of the heat of the sun and shelter from the wind. Pillows form, for example, stemless resin, saxifrage. They are so dense that from a distance they resemble moss-covered stones. The fauna of the tundra is not rich in species, but quantitatively large enough. What animals live in the tundra permanently? The indigenous inhabitants of the tundra include reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes, wolves, and birds - a snowy owl and a white partridge. Very rare animals - musk oxen.
* Determine on the map which of the largest mineral deposits of our country are located in the tundra zone.
Large industrial hubs have been created in the area of the cities of Nikel, Vorkuta and Norilsk. Non-ferrous metals are being mined in Norilsk, in the north of Tomsk and Tyumen regions actively extracting oil and gas. In the zone of the Arctic tundra there is a large reserve of important natural resources such as uranium and oil.
Questions at the end of the paragraph
1. What components of nature form a natural zone?
Plant communities, animal communities, soils, character traits surface and ground runoff, water regime of rivers, exogenous processes of relief formation.
2. What determines the change of natural zones?
The change of natural zones occurs as a result of a regular change in the ratio of heat and moisture.
3. On the example of our country, justify the pattern of changing natural zones.
On the territory of Russia, there is a change from north to south of the following natural zones: arctic deserts, tundra, forest tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes, steppes, semi-deserts.
4. Think about how the flora and fauna of the Arctic deserts are adapted to their habitat.
Plants do not form a dense vegetation cover, are small, flowering plants have a very short growing season. Animals of the Arctic deserts have adapted to get food from the sea, many have thick white wool, birds inhabit the coast.
5. Indicate the features of the tundra zone of our country and explain them.
A feature of the Russian tundra zone is its wide distribution and the separation of several subzones from north to south. From north to south, three subzones are distinguished: arctic tundras are replaced by typical (moss-lichen), and then by shrubs from dwarf birch and polar willows.
6. Think about the reason for the strong vulnerability of the nature of the tundra zone.
Pollutants do not remain in place, air currents carry them over long distances. And the inhabitants of the tundra, especially lichens, are extremely sensitive to their effects. In the tundra, pollutants are accumulated, not washed away melt waters. Low temperatures inhibit the destruction of harmful compounds. Dozens of rivers and lakes perish. In soil and water all year round streams of fuel oil and diesel fuel flow from drilling rigs. The coast of the Arctic seas and the entire tundra are littered with ownerless barrels and rusty iron. Many settlements are in an unsanitary condition. There are practically no environmentally friendly enterprises. Thermal power stations smoke the sky. Smog settles on White snow, dividing it with black, and patches of bare earth appear in those places where pollution is especially high. Not a single plant will grow here for many years. Another problem of the tundra is uncontrolled hunting and poaching. Many plant and animal species have become rare.
