11: Gulf Coastal Plains and Mississippi Valley

Physical Geography:                                                   Mississippi River Basin

For the Gulf Coastal Plains and Mississippi Valley, more than 400 species of wildlife and 40% of North America’s migratory waterfowl live within the Mississippi River basin, but erosion, pollution, and climate change disrupt existing ecosystem and habitats, and introduce pests and new species. Similar to the Mississippi, The prehistoric Hawaiian Islands were a remote, tropical Eden with vegetation that varied according to the island’s age. The major challenge to the island vegetation and animals has been since the jet age, when invasive species were imported to the detriment of crops and the extinction of native species. The numerous jet-age invasive species threaten the economy, environment, and lifestyle of the islands.

Climate:

One thing that The Gulf Coastal, Mississippi Valley and Hawaii have in common is Trade winds. For Gulf Coastal and Mississippi Valley, the climate is a result of trade winds circulating warm, dry air, except in the Gulf Coastal region, which is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Moist winds blow onshore, boosting winter and spring precipitation from a high of 90 inches along the Eastern Gulf Coastal plain tapering to seven inches along the southernmost Rio Grande Plain. During the growing season, thunderstorms and lightening are almost daily occurrences. When it comes to Hawaii’s climate, the climate has little seasonality, but the trade winds and the mountainous topography have created a distinct rainfall pattern that determines the location of the Hawaiian tourism economy. Following the trade of wind, the windward (northeast) side of the islands receives plentiful rainfall, while the southwest leeward (protected from wind and rain) side rainfall is scant.