Checking for Understanding1 Define wattle doldrums typhoon

manuka lichen crevasse

2 Main Ideas Create a Venn diagramlike the one below Fill in the climate factors for each locationputting those factors that bothplaces have in common in the area where the circles overlap

Critical Thinking3 Making Inferences What type

of climate does most of NewZealand have Why might it appeal to settlers

4 Problem Solving What problemsmight researchers encounter inAntarctica and how could theseconditions be overcome

5 Identifying Cause and Effect Howdo Pacific ocean currents andwinds affect the climate of Ocea-nia How do they affect vegetation

Analyzing Maps6 Human-Environment Interaction

Study the vegetation map on page801 What type of vegetation issuitable for raising livestock andwhere in Australia is it found

7 Understanding ClimateMaps Note the climateregions on the map onpage 800 Write a para-graph explaining how cli-mate relates to the wayfarmers operate in NewZealand and Australia

Applying Geography

of year Mountainous areas exposed to westernwinds generally have more rainfall than do otherareas Although the country as a whole averages25 to 60 inches (64 to 152 cm) of rain annually theSouthern Alps on South Island have an averageannual rainfall of 315 inches (800 cm) Humiditylevels in inland areas are about 10 percent lowerthan coastal areas Maurice Shadbolt a populartravel writer describes New Zealand as a ldquolonglean land fated to fickle weatherrdquo In fact he saysldquoAt its most temperamental New Zealand canoffer the traveller all four seasons in one dayrdquo

New Zealandrsquos geographic isolation gives riseto unique plant life Almost 90 percent of thecountryrsquos indigenous plants are native onlyto New Zealand Manuka a small shrub carpetsland where prehistoric volcanic eruptionsdestroyed ancient forests Early settlers fromGreat Britain cut down almost all of the pinelikekauri trees but some still grow among thrivingevergreen forests In an effort to repair severe ero-sion damage in deforested areas New Zealandrsquosforest service has imported several tree speciesfrom Europe and North America A species ofpine tree native to California in the United Statesfor example now grows in large areas of the vol-canic plateau of North Island Willows andpoplars from Europe also help keep soil on hill-sides from eroding

AntarcticaAntarctica is the earthrsquos highest driest windiest

and coldest continent Though very cold year-round Antarcticarsquos climate exhibits some variationAir loses moisture as it rises over Antarcticarsquosplateau making the plateau drier than Australiarsquosdeserts but much colder Temperatures may plungeas low as ndash129degF (ndash89degC) in winter The AntarcticPlateau descends to coastal areas that have a mildermoister climate Annual snowfall averages no morethan 2 inches (5 cm) inland but along the coast itoften measures 24 inches (61 cm)

Despite the severe climate some species ofmosses and algae have adapted well to life onAntarctica In rocky areas along the coasts tinysturdy plants called lichens thrive Of the approxi-mately 800 plant species in Antarctica about 350 arelichens These plants survive by remaining dormantfor long periods and almost instantly beginning tophotosynthesize during brief periods of milderweather The continentrsquos only two flowering plantsgrow in a small area on the Antarctic Peninsulathat lies in a tundra climate zone Summer temper-atures there may reach almost 60degF (16degC)

Although frozen Antarcticarsquos ice is not motion-less The caprsquos tremendous weight causes the frozenmass to spread toward the coasts As it moves theice breaks into pieces causing huge crevasses orcracks as much as 100 feet (30 m) wide

C h a p t e r 3 2 803

Australia Both New Zealand

Comparing Climates