Latvia Changing

The physical world around us is alive and constantly changing, forming and dismantling itself, Latvia being no exception. Its hills, open flatlands, and many lakes of the land were formed by glacial movements during the several ice ages of the past. Because glaciers were retreating, they left behind loose material (till, fig. 1) or mounds of ice, the latter, after time, making lakes (fig. 2) Latvia’s landscape is primarily formed by glaciers, little seismic or platonic activity shaping the land due to fact that it is not near the Eurasian plate border.

Figure 2
The ice left behind by the glacier
depresses into the ground because
of its intense weight. The ice will
melt after time to form a lake.

Figure 1
Till is a loose deposit of rock, clay, or
other lose material left by glaciers as they
retreated

1,000 Years

From what we know about the past, we are able to take a gander about the future. Since we are coming out of an ice age, even further in 1,000 years, temperatures are sure to rise which will melt glaciers and raise sea levels, though not too significantly too have an adverse affect on Latvia.. The air flow Latvia gets from the sea is sure to be warmer and more humid. The climate will perhaps become wetter, winters may lighten up and summers will be warmer, but the amount of precipitation in either season will definitely increase as the temperature does since warmer air can hold more moisture.

Figure 3
The river moves around by erosion, the banks cutting into
the land. Each time it leaves a scar on the land,
showing where a river has been, making it easy to map
its previous locations.

10,000 Years

The ice age can be assumed to be over at this point, record high temperatures around the globe will be present. With more of the glaciers melted and the sea levels rising to a greater significance, the coast line of Latvia will have moved further inland, with the humidity in the air increasing. Because of this increase and the land itself becoming closer to the ocean, it could start to have an effect on both the soils and the plants in Latvia, perhaps making them both richer and greener. The rivers in Latvia will have moved around, a process called meandering (fig. 3) as well as causing several floods through the years.

1,000,000 Years

Figure 4
the wetlands of Latvia are
extensive and cover most of
the land.

It may be seemingly far into the future for us, but 1million years is short in geographical terms. Due to the constant movement of the tectonic plates in massive ways, Latvia could be located a few degrees away from where it is now. Perhaps there will be another ice age by then, glaciers moving once more into the land, leaving valleys, deposits, and changing the formation of the land. If another ice age hasn't happened by then, perhaps the warmer temperature will have had a more adverse effect on the land, making winters warmer, summers longer, and giving even more rain. The wetlands would surely increase in size and rivers could cute further into the land, creating small valleys.









While it takes much time for geography to change drastically, it is always changing. It is never still and never at rest. Though Latvia’s landscape seems simple and straightforward, it took a lot to form these lands and it will still take a lot to change them. Even if it’s something as simple as rising sea levels or rivers cutting into the land, these things can create drastic changes in a land.

Sources

Information
Information 1
Information 2

Information 3

Information 4

Pictures
Glacial Till (fig. 1)
Glacial Lakes (fig. 2)

Meandering River (fig. 3)
Wetlands (fig. 4)

Climate and Weather in Latvia

Latvia is comprised of two types of climates, climates being the expected, long term weather in an area. Latvia has a maritime climate in the west near the coast and a continental climate in the east. Maritime climates usually have cool summers and mild winters with a small temperature range. Continental climates usually have hot summers and cold winters. Latvia has both of these with the central region being a combination of both since it is a transitional area.

Latvia is next to the Baltic Sea, allowing it to have a maritime climate
that makes the western part much wetter than the eastern part.

Since Latvia is located next to a sizable body of water, the air carried into the country is very humid, allowing for plenty of moisture in the air. The moisture in turn affects the weather during the different seasons. More moisture can mean more snow or rain. During warmer seasons, since warm air can hold more humidity, it is more likely to rain. As such, summer is wet and the maximum rainfall happens in August. Snow is a very common during the winter and there can be constant cover, with depths of 30 cm, or 11 in, for most of the country.

This graph shows the average monthly precipitation over the year
for the city of Cesis, a northern town a little way from
the Gulf of Riga.

This graph shows the average humidity over the year
for the city of Cesis, a northern town a little way from
the Gulf of Riga.

Because of the high precipitation, rainy wear is recommended year round for those in Latvia, whether residents or just visiting. The harsh winters call for heavy wear and warmer seasons need lighter wear. The people of Latvia enjoy very green lands, both open areas and swamps/marshes. The heavy rains allow for these conditions, both being advantageous and problematic, such as lending to flooding and less land being optimal for use.

Snow covers a car in the city of Riga.

A flood is shown in the city of Riga.

Sources
Information
http://www.enviropedia.org.uk/Climate/Continental_Climate.php
http://www.enviropedia.org.uk/Climate/Maritime_Climate.php
http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/Latvia/Latvia.htm#climate
http://www.spainexchange.com/guide/LV-climate.htm
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/latvia/weather-climate-geography

Pictures
Picture #1
Picture #2 and #3
Picture #4
Picture #5

Soils of Latvia

There are a wide variety of soils on earth, each distinguishable from the next not only by its physical appearance but also by what it’s made up of and its parent material, parent material being the material the soil comes from. Soil can be viewed in profiles, made up of different horizons, or sections, of types of earth material. In the case of Latvia, it has diverse parent material and in turn diverse types of soils. There are twelve types in total with spodosol (or podzolic) soils being the most present, covering about 45% of the land.

Soil is formed by the parent material (C) weathering,

or breaking, down through both
physical and chemical means. 

Organic matter, such as leaves or
 decaying animals, is added in to the mix.
Fine particles leach downward,
further into other horizons.

Spodosol soils are typical of coniferous

and mixed forests where there are large 
amounts of water. It is often characterized 
by the ashy gray color of the upper layer

of soil as well as it being acidic.

The soil is made acidic from breaking

down organic material such as

surface litter, roots, and organisms.

Most of the land available in Latvia is taken up by forests and because of the prevalent spodsol soil areas are infertile and not able to support crops or other vegetation for agriculture. 38.2% of the land is available and used for agriculture (the remaining land split between roads, water, wetlands, etc.). Some soil types that are present in the land in general are brown soils, anthrosols, gleyed, and alluvial.

Brown soils come from diverse and 
chemically rich parent material and are very fertile.

Anthrosols occur in areas that have been intensely cultivated by man, enough to affect the soil process.

Gleyed soil happens when the parent material is rich in
carbon or the water contains a lot of
calcium and magnesium and is very fertile.

Alluvial soils often occur where water is or once was, including flooding areas.

Each soil type, no matter how insignificant in amount, plays in Latvia’s ability to produce crops as well as selecting locations for animal grazing or even housing. While the variety can prove to be a problem in how to use it, soils are able to be cultivated so they may become fertile and useable. The infertile soil that makes up the majority of the land in Latvia can become fertile and used as agriculturally viable land.

Sources:
Picture 1 - Horizons
Picture 2 - Spodosol Soil Profile
Picture 3 - Brown Soil Profile
Picture 4 - Anthrosol Soil Profile
Picture 5 - Gleyed Soil Profile
Picture 6 - Alluvial Soil Profile

Strata in Latvia

Latvia is a small Eastern European country next to the Baltic Sea and is close to 25,000 sq mi. It is located on a more western part of the Eurasian Plate. While Latvia does have many lakes and rivers, it is not in close proximity with the plate’s border and as such has low tectonic/seismic activity.

Latvia
photo credit - nationsonline.org

Tectonic Plates
photo credit - skywalker.cochise.edu

Latvia has many of its own wonders beside huge mountains or disorienting faults despite its sort of middle location on the Eurasian Plate. Located in Latvia in Vidzeme (or “the Middle Land”) is Gauja National Park with an area of 917.45 km² (roughly 570 mi²). In this national park is the Gauja formation.

Gauja Formation
photo credit -ermaktravel.com

This formation is made up of sandstone, varying from fine-grained to very fine-grained and from well cemented to weakly cemented layers. The formation has a maximum thickness of 260ft and has clastic dikes running through the sandstone. Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock, the layers of build-up (or strata) clearly visible with the coloring of each layer. While mainly a yellowish-gray there are also parts that are pinkish brown as well as other colors.

Strata from Gauja Formation
photo credit - gnp.lv

It is a little surprising to find that Latvia has such large, clear formations of sandstone with very beautiful, discernible strata! Though Gauja National Park is not the only place with geological formations or happenings, it certainly has one that is a precise example of strata. It is not only aesthetically pleasing but it also provides good tourism to the region.

Introduction

This blog is run by Andrea Howard for the class GEOG 1202: Introduction to Physical Geography.

I am an undergraduate freshman student. My major is English Writing with an emphasis on creative writing. By taking vastly different and diverse classes I hope to gain knowledge that will ultimately help me in my true goal of becoming a published author. The location I have chosen for this blog is the country of Latvia. While small (it is roughly a little larger than the size of the state West Virginia) it holds beautiful plains and gentle rolling hills.

photo credit - http://www.hough-vilcins-lawyers.lv/index901a.html?page=142

To me it seems that many of the smaller countries of the western world are greatly overlooked. While it can be said that there is nothing absolutely mind boggling about them (for the most part) they are certainly interesting in their own right. Latvia’s geography may not be rough or rugged or the most diverse but it is gentle and sweeping and kind. The beauty is the simplicity of the land. Forests, flowing river, and gentle hills make for a picturesque setting that is easily lovable.