Transcript Biomes - Newark City Schools

Biomes of the World
Weather vs. Climate
• Weather – the day-to-day condition of
Earth’s atmosphere at a certain time and
place.
• Climate – the average yearly condition of
temperature and precipitation in a region.
• Carbon dioxide and other atmospheric
gases trap heat energy and maintain
Earth’s temperature range. These gases
function like the glass windows of a
greenhouse.
Therefore, the
trapping of heat
by gases in the
atmosphere is
called the
greenhouse effect.
• This greenhouse effect helps temperatures
on Earth stay within a range that supports
life. Latitude also affects climate. Earth has
three main climate zones:
• Polar
• Temperate
• Tropical
• Polar zones are cold areas where the
sun’s rays strike Earth at a very long
angle.
• Temperate zones ranges from hot to
cold, depending on the season.
• Tropical zone is near the equator.
The climate here is almost always
warm.
What is a biome?
A biome is a particular
physical environment
that contains a
characteristic
assemblage of plants
and animals and has a
particular climate.
Within a biome, there
may be microclimates.
A species may live
over a large or small
area, depending on its
ability to survive and
reproduce under tough
conditions.
How many biomes are there?
Tropical Rainforest
• Home to more species than all
other biomes combined.
• The weather is hot and wet all
year round.
• Found near the equator.
Tropical Savanna
• Characterized by a cover of
grass. Spotted with isolated
trees and shrubs.
• Home to largest land animals in
the world.
• Warm temperatures and
seasonal rainfall.
Temperate Grassland
• Characterized by a cover of
grass.
• Most commonly found in the
USA.
• Temperatures range from cold
to warm, based on the season.
Rainfall also varies based on
season.
Desert
• DRY, defined as having less
than 25 cm of rain a year.
• Usually thought of as hot, but
temperatures can actually vary
greatly.
• Organisms that live in this
biome can tolerate extreme
conditions.
Temperate Forest
• Contain a mixture of deciduous and
coniferous trees. Deciduous trees
lose their leaves in the autumn.
• Cold winters and warm summers.
Year-round precipitation.
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
• Contain mostly coniferous trees.
• Winters are VERY cold, but summers
are mild and long enough for the
ground to thaw.
• Mostly occurs in the northern
hemisphere
Tundra
• Characterized by permafrost, a
layer of permanently frozen soil.
• Very cold. Winters are harsh,
summers are short and cool.
• Found only in the very far north.