Biomes
Activities
Biomes
A biome is a major regional group of distinctive plant and animal communities best adapted to the region's physical natural environment, latitude, altitude and terrain factors. A biome is composed of the climax vegetation and all associated sub climax, or degraded, vegetation, fauna and soils, but can often be identified by the climax vegetation type. | Source: Wikipedia
Global Biomes and Climate
- Use the link above to collect the information necessary to complete this table – to show the different climates and vegetations found in each of the globes major biomes.
| Biome | Image | Climate Describe the climate (temperature and rainfall) | Season Is there any difference between the seasons? | Typical vegetation Describe the typical vegetation found in the biome |
| Tropical rainforest | ||||
| Savanna | ||||
| Desert | ||||
| Chaparral | ||||
| Temperate grasslands | ||||
| Temperate deciduous forest | ||||
| Coniferous forest | ||||
| Tundra |
Why are the biomes located where they are
Levels of solar radiation
- Why does the Equator receive more solar radiation than the Poles?
- How does the level of solar radiation arriving upon different parts of the earth's surface affect the biome located there?
Prevailing winds
- What is a rain shadow and how does it affect the biomes in that area?
Oceanic circulation
- How does the 'North Atlantic Drift' keep Western Europe warmer than it should be?
- What is the Thermohaline Circulation / Ocean Conveyor Belt / Global Conveyor Belt / Meridional Overturning Circulation?
Altitude
- The image above shows the Furtwangler Glacier on Mt Kilimanjaro. The location of the glacier is very close to the equator. Explain why there is a glacier at such a warm latitude.
Atmospheric cells
- How does the presence of atmospheric cells explain the location of deserts and tropical rainforests?
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