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Chapter 15
The Biosphere
Climate
Developed by trapping of heat in the
atmosphere, latitude, transport of heat by
wind or water currents, precipitation,
shape of land and elevation
 Incoming sunlight has a major role
 Microclimate-climate of a small specific
place within a larger area

Greenhouse effect
Gases in atmosphere keep heat close to
earth
 Prevents some heat from escaping into
space; Earth stays too warm
 Main gas involved is CO2

Latitude

Latitude and heating angle produce 3
climate zones
 Polar-cold
areas, sun at low angle, between
66.5o and 90o both north and south
 Temperate-between polar and tropic zones,
wider range of temperatures with seasons
 Tropic-at the equator, between 23.5o north
and 23.5o south
Air and water movement
Heat causes movement of air and water
 Warm air and water are less dense the
cool air and water causing them to rise
 As they rise they cool (for water this
produces precipitation)
 Movement of air produces movement in
water causing currents

Land masses
Help shape climates
 Areas closer to water have less extreme
“seasons” than those areas farther inland
 Mountains can affect precipitation (one
side will receive much precipitation
throughout the year, the other side in is
“rain shadow”)

Biomes
Large groups of ecosystems that share
climax communities
 Land or water

 Aquatic-oceans,
 Terrestrial-land
lakes, streams, rivers, ponds
Terrestrial biomes

6 major land biomes on Earth
 Tundra
 Taiga
 Desert
 Grassland
 Temperate
 Rain
forest
forest
Tundra
Low animal diversity
 permafrost
 Long summers
 Short periods of winter sunlight
 Temperature always below freezing
 Supports grasses and small plants
 Location: North and South poles

Taiga
Northern coniferous forest
 Warmer and wetter than tundra
 Long severe winters
 Short mild summers
 Provides food / shelter for animals
 Location: parts of Canada, Northern
Europe, Asia

Desert
Arid region
 Sparse plant life
 Animals usually nocturnal
 Less than 25cm of precipitation yearly
 Location: northern Africa, southwestern
US

Grassland
Large areas with grasses and small plants
 Have a dry season
 Rich soil
 Supports 100 species per acre
 25-27cm rain annually
 Location: Mid-Europe, Mid-US

Temperate forest
Broad-leaved, hard-wood trees
 Trees lose leaves in autumn
 Rich top soil
 Clay beneath top soil
 70-150cm rain annually
 Location: Eastern US

Rain Forest
Warm, wet areas
 Lush plant growth
 Equatorial regions
 Warm temperatures all year
 At least 200cm rain annually
 Location: Central America

Aquatic biomes
2 sub biomes
 Marine-2 zone regions

 Photic
zone-shallow area where light
penetrates
 Aphotic zone-deep water without light
Aquatic biomes

Marine land regions
 Estuary-coastal
area partially surrounded by
land; fresh and salt water mix
 Intertidal zone-shore between high and low
tide lines
 Neritic zone-from low tide mark to edge of
continental shelf
 Bathyl zone-from edge of neritic zone to base
of continental shelf
 Abyssal zone-below 2000 meters; complete
darkness
Aquatic biomes
Coral reefs - tropic climate zone, warm water
temperatures all year
Kelp forests – cold, nutrient rich waters
Aquatic biomes
Freshwater-ecosystem that supports
various types of organisms at different
temperatures and levels of light
 Standing-water such as lakes and ponds
 Running water-rivers and streams
 Wetlands where water covers the soil for
at least part of the year

estuary
Partially enclosed body of water where
fresh and salt water mix
 Contains high level so nutrients due to
runoff
 Also provide protection to coastal areas
during major storms

Watershed

Region of land that drains into a river, river
system, or other body of water
Ponds and lakes
Littoral zone-between the high and low
water marks on the shoreline; high levels
of light, warm and shallow
 Limnetic zone-open water farther from
shore; lots of plankton
 Benthic zone-lake or pond bottom; less
light; lots of decomposers
