Weather, Climate, Population, and Economic Sectors

Posted on Jan 23, 2025 in Geography

Weather Elements and Climate Types

Weather Elements

Temperature: Indicates the amount of heat in the air. The distribution of temperature on the planet is very uneven. Temperatures are higher near the Equator and decrease at higher altitudes.

Precipitation: Water that falls from the atmosphere as rain, hail, and snow. There is more rain in tropical and mid-latitudes. Precipitation increases at higher altitudes; this is called orographic rainfall, which occurs when humid air masses are forced to ascend over mountainous obstacles.

Atmospheric Pressure: The weight exerted by the air in the atmosphere at a given location. Sea level pressure is 1013 mb. Areas with higher pressure are called high-pressure areas or anticyclones, while areas with lower pressure are called low-pressure areas or cyclones.

Climate Types

  • Equatorial
    • Temperatures: Higher than 18°C
    • Precipitation: Abundant, over 2000 mm
    • Vegetation: Dense jungle
    • Rivers: Abundant flow
  • Tropical
    • Temperatures: Higher than 18°C, very warm
    • Precipitation: Under 200 mm, with a dry season
    • Vegetation: Savanna
    • Rivers: Irregular regime
  • Arid
    • Temperatures: Higher than 18°C, very high
    • Precipitation: Irregular and scarce
    • Vegetation: Very poor
    • Rivers: Irregular, intermittent regime
  • Mediterranean
    • Temperatures: Warm summers, mild winters
    • Precipitation: Spring and autumn, with summer drought
    • Vegetation: Mediterranean forests, scrubland
    • Rivers: Irregular
  • Oceanic
    • Temperatures: Mild
    • Precipitation: Abundant
    • Vegetation: Deciduous forests
  • Polar
    • Temperatures: Low
    • Precipitation: Minimal, as snow
    • Vegetation: Tundra
  • Continental
    • Temperatures: Very low in winter, short summers
    • Precipitation: In the form of snow
    • Vegetation: Boreal forest and taiga
    • Rivers: Irregular regime
    • Fauna: Mammals

Population Dynamics

Birth Rate: The number of people born in a population.

Mortality Rate: A proportional number of deaths in a population within a certain time.

Infant Mortality Rate: The number of people who die within a year.

Fertility Rate: Refers to the number of births occurring within a certain period.

Rate of Natural Increase: The difference between the number of births and deaths in a year.

Evolution of the Population

In the first centuries, the population was 300 million. In the 14th century, it was 450 million; in the 15th century, 350 million; and in the 18th century, 600 million. In the 19th century, the population grew significantly due to a decrease in mortality caused by:

  1. A drop in major epidemics
  2. Improved hygiene
  3. Better nutrition
  4. Advances in medicine

In the 21st century, the population is around 6.5 billion and growing more slowly. It is estimated that by 2030, there will be 8 billion people.

Migration

Definition and Causes

Migration refers to population movements that involve a change of residence. Emigration refers to the movement of people out of an area, while immigration refers to the influx of people into an area.

Causes: Most migrations are due to economic reasons. Many people emigrate for political reasons, and sometimes due to natural disasters.

Types

Migrations can be classified as forced or voluntary. They can also be temporary or permanent, depending on whether people return to their place of origin. Spatially, migrations can be external or internal.

Economic Sectors and Agents

Primary Sector: Encompasses activities related to obtaining food and raw materials.

Secondary Sector: Includes activities that transform raw materials into finished products.

Tertiary Sector: Includes activities that provide services to citizens.

Economic Agents

Family: Engages in the economy through work, consuming goods and services.

Companies: Involved in producing goods and services. There are micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 workers), medium-sized enterprises (up to 250 employees), and large corporations (more than 250 employees). There are also individual and social enterprises.

Productive Factors

  1. Labor: Human physical and intellectual activity.
  2. Employees: Contract, permanent, and temporary work.
  3. Unions
  4. Natural Resources: Renewable and non-renewable.
  5. Capital: Human, physical, and financial.
  6. Technology: Manual procedures, machining processes, and technological procedures.
  7. Knowledge: A more prepared society.