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.

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.