as the kauri tree, podocarp trees, and smallleaved southern beeches.
Broadleaf evergreen forest may have a welldeveloped lower layer of vegetation that may
include tree ferns, small palms, bamboos, shrubs,
and herbaceous plants. Lianas and epiphytes are
abundant.
Much of the southeastern United States today
is covered by a second-growth forest consisting
of a number of pine species. It grows on the
sandy soils of the coastal plain, where it appears
to be a specialized type dependent on fastdraining sandy soils and frequent fires for its
preservation.
Today, large areas have been converted to
agricultural croplands, particularly in China.
Corn is a major crop in the southern United
States. Cattle production and tree farming are
the important uses of soils too sandy for field
crops. Rice and tea are the most important
crops in those parts of China and Japan with
similar climate.
6.5
240 Marine Division
Situated chiefly on the continental west coasts
and on islands of the higher middle latitudes
between 40
and 60
N is a zone that receives
abundant rainfall from maritime polar air masses,
and has a narrow range of temperature because it
borders on the ocean. These coasts and islands
are bathed by warm ocean water, and the
prevailing westerly winds bring abundant moisture to the land.
Trewartha (1968) classified the marine, west
coast climate as Do—temperate and rainy, with
warm summers. The average temperature of the
warmest month is below 22
C, but at least 4
months of the year have an average temperature
of 10
C. The average temperature during the
coldest month of the year is above 0
C. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, but is
markedly reduced during the summer (see
Fig. 6.3, climate diagram for Montsouris
[Paris], France). Although total rainfall is not
great by tropical standards, the cooler air
temperatures reduce evaporation and produce a
damp, humid climate with much cloud cover.
Mild winters and relatively cool summers are
typical. Coastal mountain ranges influence precipitation markedly in these middle latitudes.
The mountainous coasts of British Columbia
and Alaska annually receive 1,530–2,040 mm
of precipitation and more. Heavy precipitation
greatly contributed to the development of fiords
along the coast in Norway (Fig. 6.7), British
Columbia, southern Chile, and the South Island
of New Zealand. Heavy snows in the glacial
period fed vigorous valley glaciers that
descended to the seas, scouring deep troughs
that reach below sea level at their lower ends.
Farther back from the coast the annual rainfall
decreases, even to less than 75 cm (London
60 cm; Paris 55 cm); but in the absence of any
very high temperatures so little evaporation
occurs that even this relatively small amount is
highly effective and supports a luxuriant plant
growth.
Needleleaf forest is the natural vegetation of
the marine division. In the coastal ranges of the
Fig. 6.6 Eucalyptus forest in southeastern Australia.
Photograph by Forests Commission of Victoria; from
the American Geographical Society Library, University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries
6.5 240 Marine Division
61
Broadleaf evergreen forest may have a welldeveloped lower layer of vegetation that may
include tree ferns, small palms, bamboos, shrubs,
and herbaceous plants. Lianas and epiphytes are
abundant.
Much of the southeastern United States today
is covered by a second-growth forest consisting
of a number of pine species. It grows on the
sandy soils of the coastal plain, where it appears
to be a specialized type dependent on fastdraining sandy soils and frequent fires for its
preservation.
Today, large areas have been converted to
agricultural croplands, particularly in China.
Corn is a major crop in the southern United
States. Cattle production and tree farming are
the important uses of soils too sandy for field
crops. Rice and tea are the most important
crops in those parts of China and Japan with
similar climate.
6.5
240 Marine Division
Situated chiefly on the continental west coasts
and on islands of the higher middle latitudes
between 40
and 60
N is a zone that receives
abundant rainfall from maritime polar air masses,
and has a narrow range of temperature because it
borders on the ocean. These coasts and islands
are bathed by warm ocean water, and the
prevailing westerly winds bring abundant moisture to the land.
Trewartha (1968) classified the marine, west
coast climate as Do—temperate and rainy, with
warm summers. The average temperature of the
warmest month is below 22
C, but at least 4
months of the year have an average temperature
of 10
C. The average temperature during the
coldest month of the year is above 0
C. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, but is
markedly reduced during the summer (see
Fig. 6.3, climate diagram for Montsouris
[Paris], France). Although total rainfall is not
great by tropical standards, the cooler air
temperatures reduce evaporation and produce a
damp, humid climate with much cloud cover.
Mild winters and relatively cool summers are
typical. Coastal mountain ranges influence precipitation markedly in these middle latitudes.
The mountainous coasts of British Columbia
and Alaska annually receive 1,530–2,040 mm
of precipitation and more. Heavy precipitation
greatly contributed to the development of fiords
along the coast in Norway (Fig. 6.7), British
Columbia, southern Chile, and the South Island
of New Zealand. Heavy snows in the glacial
period fed vigorous valley glaciers that
descended to the seas, scouring deep troughs
that reach below sea level at their lower ends.
Farther back from the coast the annual rainfall
decreases, even to less than 75 cm (London
60 cm; Paris 55 cm); but in the absence of any
very high temperatures so little evaporation
occurs that even this relatively small amount is
highly effective and supports a luxuriant plant
growth.
Needleleaf forest is the natural vegetation of
the marine division. In the coastal ranges of the
Fig. 6.6 Eucalyptus forest in southeastern Australia.
Photograph by Forests Commission of Victoria; from
the American Geographical Society Library, University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries
6.5 240 Marine Division
61