The Role of Climate and Biomes

Climate, Latitude, Heat Transport and Biomes

Bananas and cranberries, like other plants and animals, vary in their adaptations to temperature, rainfall, and other environmental conditions …

The Role of Climate

Climate shapes an ecosystem!!

What is Climate? In the atmosphere,

temperature, precipitation and Heat transport combine to produce weather and climate.

The Role of Climate

WeatheroDay-to-day condition

of Earth’s atmosphere at a certain time & place.

ClimateoThe average, year-

after-year condition in a certain region.

What is Climate?

The energy of the incoming sunlight drives the Earth’s weather and determines the weather.

Climate is caused by the interplay of trapped heat in the atmosphere, wind, ocean currents, precipitation, elevation of land masses …..

What is Climate?

the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees

Sunlight strikes the surface at different angles throughout the year

The Effect of Latitude on Climate

The difference in latitude and angle of heat, the Earth has 3 main climate zones:Polar zoneTemperate zoneTropical zone

The Effect of Latitude on Climate

Winds◦ Form because warm

air rises and cold air sinks creating air currents or wind that moves air through the atmosphere

OceanoCold water near

poles sinks and warm water near Equator rises creating an ocean current

Heat Transport through Biosphere

A biome:◦ Is a large area that

has a certain soil and climate conditions

Plants and Animals are adapted to life, weather and climate in a certain type of Biome.

Biomes

Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Savannah Desert Temperate Grassland Temperate Woodland &

Shrubland Temperate Forest NW Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest Tundra

Each Biomes has a unique climate, abiotic factors and animals & plants

The Major Biomes

Home of most species.. Very diverse Climate: Hot and wet year around Plants: tall Evergreen plants Animals: Butterflies, Parrots, Anaconda Where?: South America, South Asia, parts of Africa

Tropical Rainforest

Climate: seasonal rainfall, warm & dry seasons

Plants: deciduous trees (loose leaves) Animals: Tiger, elephants, Monkeys Where?: parts of Africa, South America, India

Tropical Dry Forest

Climate: warm, seasonal rainfall, frequent fires

Plants: shrubs, tall grasses, fire-resistant trees

Animals: Lion, Zebra, Cheetah, Waterbuffalo Where?: Africa, Brazil, northern Australia

Tropical Savannah

Climate: low precipitation, variable temp. Plants: Cacti, short growth Animals: mountain lions, hawks, beetles, wasps Where?: Africa, USA, Australia, Asia

Desert

Climate: warm, hot summers, cold winters Plants: grasses, herbs Animals: grizzly bears, wolves, mule deer,

rabbits Where?: Asia, North America, South America

Temperate Grassland

Climate: hot, dry summers, cool &moist winters Plants: woody evergreens, herbs Animals: coyotes, foxes, deer, rabbits, squirrels Where?: Mediterranean Sea, Australia, Europe,

USA

Temperate Woodland and Shrubland

Climate: cold winters, warm summers Plants: deciduous trees, flowering shrubs Animals: whitetail deer, omnivores, raccoons Where?: Africa, Europe, USA, South America

Temperate Forest

Climate: mild temp, lots of rainfall during fall, winter and spring, dry summers

Plants: Spruce, ferns, evergreens Animals: bear, herbivores (elk,

deer),bobcats Where?: NW USA, Canada, N Europe &

Russia

NW Coniferous Forest

Climate: long, cold winters, mild summers Plants: Conifers, small berry shrubs Animals: lynx, weasel, moose Where?: North America, N Europe, Asia

Boreal Forest

Climate: strong winds, permafrost, cold, dark winters

Plants: lichen, mosses Animals: caribou. Foxes, small rodents Where?: North America, Asia, Europe

Tundra

Major Biomes