Chapter 17: Hawai'i and The Pacific Islands

Hawai'i and The Pacific Islands

This week the topic is Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands.  Hawai'i and The Pacific Islands make up an archipelago that extends 3600 miles Northwest from Hawai’i to the Aleutian Trench off Alaska's coast.  The Hawai'ian archipelago contains 8 inhabited islands, and about 120 uninhabited islands.  The eight inhabited islands extend out in a northwestern path, and include the "Big Island" of Hawai'i, Kahoolawe, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.  The Islands formed as a result of a hotspot.  This concept will come up again later.  The oldest inhabited islands in the chain are Kauai and Niihau which were formed about 5 million years ago.  A new island is currently forming about 20 miles off the coast of Hawai'i.  However, it is still about 3000 feet under the sea, and will be thousands of years until it breaks the surface.  Now that we have a basic understanding of this weeks region, we can move on to comparing Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands with Rehoboth Beach, DE.

For the last time, we will begin by comparing the climates of the two regions.  Hawai'i's tropical location gives it a warm and equable climate with few seasonal extremes in temperature.  Despite this, temperature and precipitation can vary dramatically with elevation and orientation of topography to the northeast.  Rehoboth Beach and the surrounding areas can have variations in precipitation, but it is not as dramatic as the Hawai'ian islands experience.  Hawai'i's Climate is largely influenced by trade winds, which are persistent warm winds that blow from east to west in tropical oceans.  The trade winds drop large quantities of rain on the north and east coasts of the islands.

Mt. Waialeale, the rainiest place on Earth

 For example, the eastern slope of Mount Waialeale on Kauai is the rainiest spot on Earth, and averages 486 inches of rain annually.  In contrast, the south and west side of the islands are in the rain shadow.  Amazingly, one can drive 20 miles from the wettest place on Earth, and end up in a place that gets only a little more rain than deserts in The Intermontane West region.  The oceanic location of the Hawai'ian islands results in little temperature variability among places at the same elevation.  Similarly, Rehoboth Beach experiences moderating effects from the Atlantic Ocean.  Temperatures in Hawai'i are mild to harm, with little seasonal change throughout the year.  For example, Honolulu has an average temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit in January, and 88 degrees in July.  This is not the case in Rehoboth Beach.  Seasonal changes in temperature are the norm in Rehoboth Beach.  Overall, the two regions have similarities, but also multiple differences in terms of climate.

The hot spot phenomena is illustrated in this diagram

Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands clearly have obvious differences from Rehoboth Beach.  For one, Rehoboth Beach is clearly not an island.  Additionally Rehoboth Beach was not formed by a hot spot like the Hawai'ian archipelago was.  Next, Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands are not a part of the continental U.S like Rehoboth Beach is.  Lastly, volcanoes are a major part of Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands.  Volcanoes are erupting constantly and forming additional land masses.  Also, a hot spot is constantly leaking lava that is forming future islands that will one day reach the surface and potentially become inhabited.  Rehoboth Beach, and the entire state of Delaware, are not worried about volcanoes, or benefiting from any land created by eruptions.  This is because there are 0 volcanoes in Delaware.  These are some of the obvious major differences between the two places; however, we will see that both regions have similarities as well.

The Hawai'ian Islands and Rehoboth Beach, DE have similarities.  One big similarity is that both regions are located along oceans.  As a result, beaches are a big part of each region.  Additionally, both regions have warm summers that creates the perfect beach weather.  The complimentary climate of each region makes both places extremely popular vacation destinations.  The Hawai'ian Islands draw vacationers year round unlike Rehoboth Beach, but in the summer months, both places are popular places for a beach getaway.  Rehoboth Beach and The Hawai'ian Islands both have economies that are tightly intwined with tourism.  It is undeniable that both places are largely dependent on tourism to help drive their economies and bring in money.  Tourism is without a doubt a strong similarity that both Rehoboth Beach, DE and The Hawai'ian Islands share.

Check out the above video for a brief history of the "Big Island" of Hawaii, as well as spots to check out if you ever find yourself visiting the island.

Of course we can't talk about The Hawai'ian Islands without at least mentioning the insane waves, and huge surfing scene Hawai'i and the other islands have to offer.  Check out the video below for a gnarly wipeout on a big Hawai'ian wave.  If you ever find yourself trying your hand at surfing in The Hawai'ian Islands, just remember to stick to what you can handle.

Overall, Rehoboth Beach and The Hawai'ian islands have their share of differences, but the similarities both places share are undeniable.  This concludes my Geography 321 Blog.  There will be no more "Until Next Time's"  If you took the time to read my blog, I sincerely hope you learned something (And weren't too critical of my less than stellar ability to correctly place commas).  It has been an enlightening and also grueling journey at times, but alas we have reached the end and I am very proud of my blog.

I'm William Custard
You Stay Classy, Rehoboth Beach.

Chapter 16: The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest Region

This week the topic is The Pacific Northwest.  True to its name, The Pacific Northwest is located in the northwestern United States along the Pacific coast up into Canada and eventually reaching Alaska.  The region is famous for its environmental initiatives to preserve and protect the local environments.  In fact, Ernest Callenbach referred to the region as Ecotopia in one of his novels.  However, in more resent years, the region is more often referred to as Cascadia.  Most of The Pacific Northwest is mountainous, and most of the mountain ranges parallel the coast.  Similar to California, some areas in The Pacific Northwest are troughs that are enclosed by mountain ranges to the west and east.  One such area extends from central Oregon to Puget Sound (The Willamette Valley) and can be found between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Ranges.  The Willamette Valley was the end of the Oregon Trail.  Today, its incredibly fertile land is home to the densest population in Oregon and its largest cities. Geographically, The Pacific Northwest includes the coastal regions of Washington and Oregon, before heading up the coast of Canada, and finally reaching coastal regions of Alaska.  First, we will compare the climate of The Pacific Northwest with Rehoboth Beach, DE, and then we will look at an important aspect of The Pacific Northwest and how it relates to both regions.

Interestingly, this week, we have a region on the northwestern coast to compare to a town on the northeastern coast.  Both regions are separated by close to 3000 miles, but there will likely be similarities in climate between the two places because of there similar overall locations.  The Pacific Northwest's climate is influenced by 3 major things: 1) Its location just east of the relatively warm ocean. 2) Its location within the zone of onshore westerly winds. 3) North-south mountain barriers located along the coast, as well as father inland.  Similar to other places we have studied, the Coast Mountains get most of the precipitation from onshore moisture on the western slopes.

This graphic highlights the effects of the rain shadow,
as well as the moderating effects on temperature
the Pacific Ocean has on coastal parts of the region.

Thus, creating a rain shadow effect on the surrounding areas east of the mountain range.  The phenomena of rain falling on the western side of the mountains as it is lifted and cooled is called orographic rainfall.  Rehoboth Beach, and Delaware as a whole, does not experience orographic rainfall because there are no major mountains in the way for ocean air to have to rise over.  Therefore, precipitation from the onshore winds falls throughout much of Delaware, rather than just west of the mountains as in The Pacific Northwest.  Ironically, The Pacific Northwest's coastal mountains get some of the highest rainfall totals in North America, yet regions directly east of the mountains receive under the national average.  This fact highlights the rain shadow effect, and how real of an effect it has on the region's climate.  Despite the large variations in rainfall throughout the region, some areas, such as Corvalis, Oregon receive similar amounts of annual rainfall as Rehoboth Beach.  Both areas receive about 45 inches of rain each year.  In The Pacific Northwest, winters are cool and rainy, with numerous storms.  I have family in Washington, and have heard it said that there is the rainy season, and then there is August.  Snow is usually only seen in the mountain peaks, but on occasion temperatures can get low enough in other areas.  In the summer, maritime air moderates the temperature, and thus, temperatures are cooler along the coast than farther inland.  The moderating effect the Pacific Ocean has on the Pacific Northwest is very similar to the moderating effect the Atlantic Ocean has on Rehoboth Beach.  That said, Rehoboth Beach is far more humid than The Pacific Northwest. As a whole, coastal regions in The pacific Northwest tend to have cooler summers, but warmer winters than Rehoboth Beach.  As you move inland, regions of The Pacific Northwest tend to have cooler-cold winters that are similar in temperature to winters in Rehoboth Beach.  Overall, both regions have their differences; however, they also have multiple similarities.

Environmental protection is a very important aspect of The Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest has placed a high value on protecting the environment, and has done so in a manner that is unrivaled by other regions, Rehoboth Beach included.  However, that is not to say Rehoboth Beach does not value the environment.

Backpacking in The Pacific Northwest is a popular activity

As a beach town, Rehoboth Beach's popularity is dependent on providing clean beaches, and a clean environment overall, so vacationers will keep coming back each summer.  Rehoboth Beach actively works to keep its beaches and city clean.  Additionally, the city operates in a way that does not cause major environmental harm.  Similarly, The Pacific Northwest continues to protect its surrounding environment.  As a result, many vacationers like to visit The Pacific Northwest during the summer months for activities such as backpacking, sports fishing, river rafting, and taking in the beautiful scenery.  Both Rehoboth Beach, and The Pacific Northwest benefit in terms of tourism by protecting their environments, and keeping the region clean/safe.

Overall, The Pacific Northwest and Rehoboth Beach, DE had similarities as well as differences.  Their similar locations, albeit on opposite coasts, played a role in many of the similarities the two regions shared.  Next week the topic will be Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands.  It is the final chapter in my course, and therefore, will be the final installment to my Geography 321 Blog so don't miss it.

Until Next Time,
William

Chapter 15: California

This week the topic is California.  As most people know, California is located on the western coast of the United States, and is the 3rd largest State.  California became a state shortly after gold was found within its borders.  Today, California is an extremely diverse state, and is at the forefront of a lot of issues and pop-culture in the United States.  Geographically, California can be divided into 3 large areas: mountains that parallel the coast, interior valleys, and higher mountain ranges to the east.  Additionally, people often divide California into Northern and Southern California.  Earthquakes are very common in California.  In fact, they are happening all the time, but the vast majority are so small we don't really feel them.  Earthquakes in California are the result of strike-slip faults along the Coast where the North American Plate and the Pacific plate are sliding past each other. California has multiple faults, but the most famous and well know is the San Andreas Fault.  California's location on the western coast is opposite to Rehoboth Beach's location on the Eastern Coast.  We will take a look at the two locations by comparing the climates and also making note of other similarities and differences.

Throughout the United States, California is often considered to be a cool and exciting state to live in.  California, southern California specifically, has a highly desirable climate that contributes to the states popularity.  Most of California features a Mediterranean climate, with cool and occasionally rainy winters and long summers with warm to hot temperatures and little or no precipitation.  Spatial variations in precipitation and temperature in California are driven by latitude, altitude, and distance from the ocean.  Typically, along the coast and mountains in Northern California the climate is wetter and cooler than other parts of California.  The coastal mountains soak up most of the precipitation on the western side, leaving the eastern side and interior valleys increasingly dry as you move inland.  Coastal California and the lowland valleys are generally frost-free year round, but mountainous areas receive heavy snow.

Carson Peak, Sierra Nevada Mountains

Some areas of the Sierra Nevadas experience as much as 300 inches of snow each winter, which melts in the spring/summer and provides vital water for Californian cities.  Rehoboth Beach shares similarities with California's climate.  It is not a perfect match, but there are similarities between the two regions.  For example, portions of California (more northern) have warm summer temperatures similar to Rehoboth Beach.  Also, the Pacific Ocean moderates the weather in coastal areas of California like the Atlantic Ocean does to the weather in Rehoboth Beach.  Additionally, the moisture from the ocean air results in the occurrence of rain in coastal regions of California and in Rehoboth Beach.  Despite the similarities, there are plenty of differences.  First, southern California experiences hotter summers than Rehoboth Beach does.  Personally, I always enjoyed being able to leave the 100+ degree weather behind for the mid 80 degree weather in Rehoboth Beach.  Second, California does not have rain evenly distributed throughout the year like in Rehoboth Beach.  Lastly, California does not experience humid weather like Rehoboth Beach does.  This is a major difference between California's mediterranean climate and Rehoboth Beach's mild humid subtropical climate.  Overall, both places share several similarities, but also several key differences in terms of climate.

The earthquake "Ring of Fire"

California is very well known for having more than a few faults, and being in the "Ring of Fire".  Earthquakes are a common occurrence in California, but most are so small residents do not feel a thing.  Rehoboth Beach, and Delaware at large are not in the "Ring of Fire".  Earthquakes are not nearly as significant of a concern in Rehoboth Beach as they are in California.  Continental Plates are not sliding past each other on the Rehoboth Beach coast as is the case in California.  This is a major difference between the two regions.

Miners during the California Gold Rush

California is also very famous for the Gold Rush.  In 1848, Gold was discovered within the Californian border.  By 1849, the rush was on.  A year later, California officially became a state.  California experienced a massive population spike as people from all over flocked to California in hopes of striking it rich.  The frenzy that the Gold Rush sparkled in terms of people flocking to the state is similar to the summertime frenzy Rehoboth Beach experiences each year.  Of course there are differences between the two events, but the increase in overall population, and frenzy sparked by both events is a similarity for the two regions.


Overall, we were able to identify many similarities, as well as differences between Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and California.  Next week we will discuss The Pacific Northwest, and once again compare and contrast the region to Rehoboth Beach.

Until Next time,
William

Chapter 14: MexAmerica

MexAmerica Region

This week the topic is MexAmerica.  MexAmerica is located in the southwest corner of the United States, and spans the entire U.S - Mexico border.  In terms of U.S land, MexAmerica includes portions of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.  The regions location at the border between the U.S and Mexico results in a unique situations.  For example, the formation of maquiladoras in Mexico and the resulting twin city phenomena is unique to MexAmerica.  We will further discuss this later, but first, we will compare the climate of MexAmerica to the climate of Rehoboth Beach.

Climate plays a major role in how regions develop.  Therefore, comparing climates is a standard for these blog posts.  Similar to The Intermontane West, the MexAmerica climate varies throughout the region.

This picture exemplifies the open, hot, dry climate,
as well as the different elevations seen throughout the
MexAmerica Region

That said, the entire region is linked by one characteristic, hot, dry weather.  Mountains in Southern California, and Northwestern Mexico block most of the onshore moisture coming from the nearby pacific ocean.  Because of this, MexAmerica is essentially in a rain shadow and receives little precipitation.  For example, Phoenix, Arizona only receives an annual average of 8 inches of rain per year.  This is much less than the 44 inch annual average Rehoboth Beach gets.  Eastern parts of MexAmerica are not as dry, and get 20-25 inches of rain annually.  Despite this, the region is still well below the national average, and only gets about half the rain Rehoboth Beach does.  MexAmerica's southern latitudinal position results in very hot summers.  The average temperature for Phoenix in July is 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Phoenix, Arizona in the distance

Locations further east, or at higher elevations in the region are still pretty hot, but are somewhat cooler overall.  MexAmerica is much hotter than Rehoboth Beach's July average of 87 degrees.  In winter, the MexAmerica region is much cooler.  Phoenix averages a high of 65 and low of 43 degrees in Janurary.  This is still significantly warmer than Rehoboth Beaches average of 30 degrees Fahrenheit in January.  Despite the difference in seasonal temperatures between the two places, they do share a similarity.  Both MexAmerica and Rehoboth Beach experience a swing of about 50 degrees between summer and winter months.  That said, MexAmerica is still hotter on average year round than Rehoboth Beach.  These two very different regions unsurprisingly do not have a lot in common; however, a similarity could still be found, albeit a small one.

MexAmerica is home to a very unique scenario.  Thanks to regulations set in place by NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) numerous maquiladoras in Mexico were formed.  Maquiladoras are assembly plants, or factories that rely on mexican labor.

This map highlights maquiladora production.  The twin city
phenomena can also be seen if you look closely.  For example,
Tijuana is San Diego's twin city.

Often times companies ship raw goods to the maquiladoras for assembly, and then import the finished goods back into the United States for sale. As a result of this, a phenomena called "Twin Cities" formed.  Twin cities refers to the notion that for large cities on the mexican side of the border, there is a U.S equivalent on the other side of the border.  These twin cities often form in places maquiladoras are popular, and provides cities on each respective side of the border to aid in business.  This scenario is not seen in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, or even anywhere else in North America for that matter.  It is unique to MexAmerica and it drives the regions economy.  Therefore, maquiladoras and twin cities are an integral part of MexAmerica and deserve being noted.

Rehoboth Beach, DE and MexAmerica are very different places.  The large distance, and multiple major landforms between the two locations are partially responsible for the vast amount of differences.  It is not surprising that a northeastern town on the coast is vastly different from a southwestern region that is blocked in by mountains to the west.  Next week we will have made our way across the United States and will be discussing California.  The comparison between a state on the east coast vs a state on the west coast is sure to be interesting, so do not forget to check it out.

Until Next Time,
William

Chapter 13: The Intermontane West

The Intermontane West

This week the topic is The Intermontane West.  True to its name, The Intermontane West region is located on the western side of the United States and is directly east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and west of The Rocky Mountain Region discussed last week.  The region does partially extend into Canada, but the vast majority of land it encompasses is in the United States.  On the U.S side, The Intermontane West includes portions of, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and most of Nevada, and Utah.  Rehoboth Beach is a large distance away from The Intermontane West, but we will compare the two and look for a common link between the two areas.

First, we will compare the Climates of both areas as has become the tradition.  The Intermontane West is a very diverse region.  In fact, The Intermontane West actually includes 4 different climate realms: sub-humid, semi-arid, moderately arid, and extremely arid.  Local climate patterns are largely influenced by elevational differences similar to The Rocky Mountain Region.  In contrast, elevation differences are not a deciding factor in weather patterns for Rehoboth Beach because the area is rather flat, and does not feature mountainous terrain.   Air moving in from the pacific is a dominant influence on climate patterns in The Intermontane West.  Similarly, the Atlantic Ocean plays a big role in the climate, and weather of Rehoboth Beach.  The Sub-humid portion of The Intermontane West includes mountainous areas in Eastern Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.  The high elevation of the mountains result in westerly winds dropping precipitation as they flow over the mountain.  At higher elevations the precipitation often falls in the form of snow.  The semi-arid area includes most of the Columbia Plateau including the Palouse region.  The moderately arid area includes most of the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah, and is the largest area of the 4 separate climate realms that make up The Intermontane West.

Death Valley National Park

 Lastly, the extremely arid area includes the Mojave Desert and Death Valley.  The extremely arid realm gets less than 8 inches of rain each year.  Death valley is the driest place in North America, and receives less than 3 inches of precipitation on average annually.  This is a big difference from the annual amount of rain Rehoboth Beach experiences each year.  During storms, Rehoboth Beach can experience more rain in a day than Death Valley gets all year.  Death Valley, and the extremely arid realm receive little rain because they are located in what geographers call the "rain shadow".  A rain shadow is the area located behind a large mountainous area.  The wind blows in westward from the Pacific Ocean, and drops most of its precipitation as it flows up and over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  By the time the wind makes it up and over, very little (If any) precipitation is left for the extremely arid realm.  Thus, a rain shadow is formed.  In contrast however, areas in the mountains of the sub-humid portion of The Intermontane West can receive as much as 150inches of precipitation on the western slopes a year.  150 inches of rain would more than triple the average annual rainfall Rehoboth Beach experiences.  The Intermontane West is a very diverse region, and features various unique and extreme climates.  Therefore, Rehoboth Beach and The Intermontane West do not have many similarities in terms of climate.

Federal Government land ownership as a percent by state

As the U.S expanded westward an interesting trend started occurring in The Intermontane West region.  Areas in The Intermontane West, and all states west of there, have much larger percentages of land under federal ownership than states east of The Intermontane West.  Most of the states in The Intermontane West have at least 40% of their land owned by the Federal Government.  In Nevada, the Federal Government owns 84.48% of the land.  This trend can be explained by a few things.  First, the federal government owned little land on the east coast and realized they should keep some under their control.  Second, the area is largely rural and unsuitable for large establishments; however it is suitable for federal uses such as military bases.  Lastly,  portions of the land under federal ownership are National Parks or Preserves.  East of The Intermontane West federal land holdings are much smaller.  In Delaware, The government only owns 2.04% of the land.  Rehoboth Beach, and Delaware as a whole, is mostly owned by people outside of the Government, as apposed to the large Federal Government land ownership in The Intermontane West.  This trend highlights a big difference between Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and The Intermontane West region.

Rehoboth Beach and The Intermontane West are two largely different areas.  Both places offer unique experiences to visitors, but the similarities between the two regions are few and far between.  Next week we will cover MexAmerica as we continue to move West across North America.  Rehoboth is not a part of MexAmerica so we will compare the two climates, and look for an additional similarity or difference like we did this week.

Until Next time,
William

Chapter 12: The Rocky Mountain Region

The Rocky Mountain Region

This week the topic is The rocky Mountain Region.  True to its name, this region is essentially the Rocky Mountains and the directly surrounding vicinity.  The Rocky Mountain Region spans from northwestern Canada down into the United States before ending in the New Mexico area.  On the U.S side, The Rocky Mountain region includes portions of: Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.  The Rocky Mountains are composed of many discontinuous mountain ranges, and extends nearly 2000 miles from New Mexico to Northeastern British Columbia.  The Rocky Mountains contain some of the highest peaks in the United States and provides rugged, yet spectacular landscapes.  Rehoboth Beach is clearly not a part of this region, so we will compare the two locations, and see if we can draw any similarities between a popular beach town, and a very well-known mountain range.

As always, we will begin by comparing the climates because it gives good insight into the regions we are comparing.

The Rocky Mountains National Park

The Rocky Mountain region is arid and some portions receive only a little more precipitation than arid western deserts.  However, higher altitudes do tend to receive more precipitation.  In winter months, most precipitation falls in the form of snow.  Thus, ski resorts are popular throughout the region.    During spring and summer, the snow melts and supplies many rivers with water that ultimately helps desert communities thrive.  Similarly to The Great Plains,  The Rocky Mountain Region is influenced by cold and warm winds(chinook winds) that can result in large changes in temperature over a short time.  Additionally, the various elevations affect weather conditions.  High peaks tend to draw clouds for precipitation, and valleys often act as wind tunnels.  Additionally, higher elevations experience colder temperatures than lower elevations.  We have discussed the climate of Rehoboth Beach many times, and it should be apparent that these two regions have largely different climates.  First, Rehoboth Beach, and really Delaware in general, does not have drastic elevation changes that affect the climate.  In fact, Delaware is pretty flat overall.  Second, the Rockies experience large variations in temperature throughout seasons and even day to day.  As noted before, Rehoboth Beach, is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, and thus does not experience the same extreme variation in temperature day to day.  Rehoboth experiences year round rain, and gets about the national average; however, excluding the higher elevations, the rocky mountain region does not get the same amount of year round rainfall.  Also, precipitation is generally in the form of rain for Rehoboth Beach, but in The Rocky Mountain region, precipitation is often in the form of snow.  Rehoboth Beach and The Rocky Mountain Region are clearly two rather different places in terms of climate, but based on their different geographic locations this is understandable.

Despite largely different climates, Rehoboth Beach and The Rocky Mountain Region do share a notable similarity.  As with other regions we have discussed, the similarity is tourism and vacationers.  Rehoboth Beach is famous for its summer time beach frenzy.  This influx of tourists and vacationers is seasonal and only occurs in the summer however.

Aspen, Colorado Ski Resort

 The Rocky Mountain Region has atractions that pull in tourists and vacationers too.  I'm talking about ski resorts in the winter, and hiking/camping in the spring-summer time.  Ski resorts are a very popular location for vacationers looking to get out and have an exciting and active trip.  One very well-known ski resort is Aspen, Colorado.  When the warmer months roll around, hikers and campers visit the region to explore the mountains and take in the awe-inspiring landscapes.


Despite the differences between the two regions, similarities do exist.  Next week the topic will be The Intermontane West.  Delaware is not included in the region so we will once again compare the two climates, and look to draw a similarity between the two.

Until Next Time,
William

Chapter 11: The Great Plains

The Great Plains Region

This week the topic is The Great Plains. Geographically, The Great Plains is located in the middle of the United States.  The region actually also extends into portions of Canada.  On the United States side, The Great Plains extend from Montana and North Dakota down to the northern tip of Texas.  The area includes parts of, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.  On the western side, the region is stopped by the protruding Rocky Mountains.  Rehoboth Beach, Delaware is obviously not a part of The Great Plans; therefore, we will look to compare the two regions and point out some differences, as well as similarities. 

Climate is an ever important indication of what a region has to offer, and plays an important role in how a region develops over time.  Therefore, we will once again begin by comparing the climates of the two different regions.  The Great Plains is home to an unpredictable and variable climate that can experience extremes from day to day, and even year to year.  Even nearby places can experience sharp differences at any given time.  Overall, The Great Plains is relatively dry, with strong seasonal changes and dramatic variations in temperature and precipitation.  Summers are hot, but are less extreme the higher north you go.  Winters are very cold in the northern areas, but generally milder in southern portions of The Great Plains.  However, Blue Northerns can, and do bring freezing temperatures and even blizzards throughout the region in the winter.  In contrast, Chinook winds bring warmer temperature to the region at times too.

A Tornado Rips through The Great Plains

This constant play between Blue Northerns and Chinook winds results in the formation of tornadoes.  Because of this, The Great plains is the most susceptible place in the world to tornadoes.  Specifically, the southern portion of The Great Plains is often referred to as "Tornado Alley".  Rehoboth Beach's climate is different in many key areas when compared to The Great Plains.  Specifically, Rehoboth Beach does not experience much variation day to day or year to year in temperature and precipitation like The Great Plains.  However, Rehoboth Beach and its surrounding areas can experience differences in local weather even though they are relatively close together like areas in The Great Plains experience.  I have been in Rehoboth before and have it be a nice sunny day, but 20 minutes away at my grandparents house it will be windy and rainy.  The Great Plains experiences large variations in temperature and precipitation from summer to winter, but the opposite is true for Rehoboth Beach.  Rehoboth Beach"s temperature is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean.  There is a variation from winter to summer, but it is not as significant as The Great Plains region experiences.  Additionally, Rehoboth Beach experiences consistent amounts of rain year to year, and is constant throughout the year unlike The Great Plains.  Lastly, Rehoboth Beach does not experience tornados like the Great Plains do.  On the other hand, Rehoboth Beach can, and have experienced blizzards like the Great Plains do.  The blizzards are rarer in Rehoboth Beach, but they do happen.  Overall, both regions have differences as expected, but similarities can still be found.

The Great Plains consists of large ranges of rural areas.  Large cities for residents of these more rural areas to visit are scattered throughout the landscape.  Rehoboth Beach, and Delaware at large is a part of the Megalopolis area.  However, much of Delaware is rural and residents make trips to the larger cities throughout the year.  Similarly, The Great Plains features large cities for people from more rural areas to visit when they need certain supplies.  In Delaware,  large cities in the surrounding area include, Dover, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other
farther away cities such as, New York, Boston, and D.C.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

In the Great Plains, some of the large cities for residents from more rural areas to visit are, Tusla and Oklahoma City on the U.S side, and Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg on the Canadian side.  I have a friend who lives in Manitoba, and about once or twice a month him and his family make a trip into Winnipeg for the day.  The formation of large cities spread apart by rural, or less urbanized areas is a common similarity between the The Great Plains and Rehoboth Beach, DE.



Despite being located in two different sections of the United States, The Great Plains and Rehoboth Beach share some similarities.  There were many differences in climate as expected, but nevertheless, some similarities could be found.  Next week the topic will be The Rocky Mountain Region.  We will compare the two regions climates, and look to draw a similarity between two otherwise largely different areas.

Until Next Time,
William

Chapter 10: The Coastal South

This week the topic is The Coastal South.  The Coastal South region spans the southeastern coast of the United States.  Specifically, the region runs from its most northern portion in Virginia, down and around the coast, to its most western portion along the coast of eastern Texas.

The Coastal South Region

The Coastal South region includes portions of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and the entire state of Florida.  Once again, this region does not include Rehoboth Beach, or any portion of Delaware for that matter.  Geographically, The Costal South is directly south from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  Both areas are coastal regions on the eastern side of the United States.  Despite not being a part of the Coastal South, Rehoboth Beach shares similarities with the region.

Both regions are coastal areas located along the eastern portion of the United States.  Rehoboth Beach is a more northern location on the coast, but the two regions still share climate similarities.  As noted before, Rehoboth Beach features a mild humid subtropical climate.  The summers are hot, and the winters are mild compared to locations farther inland.  The Atlantic Ocean plays a role in moderating Rehoboth's weather.  There is no dry season, and afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon.  Similarly, the Coastal South features a humid subtropical climate, with long hot rainy summers and mild wet winters.  There is little day to day variations in temperature, and similar to Rehoboth Beach, the Atlantic Ocean has moderating effects on the temperature of coastal areas.  Both areas have humid subtropical climates; however, Rehoboth Beach experiences a milder version of it because of its more northern location.  Thus, Rehoboth Beach generally has a cooler summer temperature than areas in The Coastal South such as Miami Florida.  Also, both regions experience rainfall and thunderstorms year round.  However, the Coastal South experiences a greater quantity of thunderstorms.  In fact, The Coastal South is the most thunder-prone area in North America.  Additionally, The Coastal South is prone to hurricanes.

Hurricane Katrina Aftermath

Many devastating hurricanes have formed off the coast and slammed coastal regions along The Coastal South.  For example, Hurricane Katrina slammed New Orleans causing massive damage.  The Rehoboth Beach area can, and has been affected by hurricanes in past.  Hurricane Sandy was a recent hurricane that affected Rehoboth Beach.  However, generally speaking, Rehoboth Beach is only mildly affected by hurricanes that form further down south.  Often times, Rehobth Beach only experiences rain, increased water levels, and rougher seas when hurricanes are occurring down south. Overall, Rehoboth Beach is not part of the Coastal South region; however, the two regions share many similarities in terms of climate.

Miami South Beach.  A very popular vacation destination

Both Rehoboth Beach, and the Coastal South feature coastal areas with popular beaches to enjoy.  Thus, both places are very popular for people looking to get away during the summer and hit the beach.  Like Rehoboth Beach, Florida is an extremely popular summer vacation spot.  Thousands flock to both places each week during summer to enjoy a vacation on the beach.  Because of this, both Rehoboth Beach, and cities along the coast in The Coastal South have economies that are driven by vacationers.  The climate plays a big role in creating an environment that goes well with enjoying the beach and being on vacation.  The climate, coupled with the nice beaches and towns that have been established along the coast create the perfect vacation spot for people in Rehoboth Beach, and areas throughout The Coastal South.  

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is not included in the Coastal South region.  Despite this, the two areas have several similarities as highlighted above.  Next week the topic will be The Great Plains.  Rehoboth Beach is not located in The Great Plains; Therefore, we will compare the two regions.  The two regions will not be as closely related as they were this week.  Nevertheless, we will look to draw at least some similarities no matter how small.

Until Next Time,
William