Texas has a variety of climates that influence its landscape and human activity. The state's climate is affected by its location, winds, proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, elevation, and rainfall levels, which increase from west to east and can cause drought. Texas experiences severe weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. The state's vegetation provides habitat for wildlife but some animals' habitats have been destroyed, leading to extinction. Lady Bird Johnson helped beautify Texas highways with native wildflowers and established a wildlife research center to study plants and prevent erosion.

1. Texas History Chapter 2.2 The Physical Landscape of Texas

2. Why are we studying this? Texas varying climates influence nature and how people work and live.

3. Weather & Climate Climate —an area’s pattern of weather over a long period of time

4. Weather & Climate Factors affecting Texas climate: Location Winds Western Winds Panhandle Winds

5. Weather & Climate Factors affecting Texas climate: Gulf of Mexico Humidity —the amount of moisture in the air Elevation

7. Rainfall in Texas The amount of precipitation increases from East  West West Texas: 8-14 in/yr East Texas: 39-56 in/yr East Texas receives more rain because it is closer to the Gulf Coast. Panhandle receives snow

8. Rainfall in Texas Drought —long period without rain

9. Severe Weather Tornadoes Hurricanes Blizzards

10. Texas Vegetation

11. Texas Vegetation Wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson Led efforts to plant wildflowers along TX highways Lady Bird Johnson

12. Texas Vegetation Established the National Wildlife Research Center in Austin

13. Texas Vegetation Center provides research info on native plants. Planting flowers prevents erosion Erosion —soil loss

14. Texas Wildlife Vegetation of Texas provides a habitat to a variety of animals Habitat —environmental home of an animal

15. Texas Wildlife As the state’s environment has changed, the habitat of some animals can be destroyed Extinct —to die out completely or disappear