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Biomes Major Biomes Tropical rain forest Tropical dry forest Savanna Grassland Desert Temperate woodland and shrubland aka Chaparral Temperate forest aka Deciduous Tundra Northwest coniferous forest (temperate rain forest) Taiga (boreal) Tropical Rain Forest Hot and wet year round Nutrient poor soil Near equator Dense canopy Tropical Dry Forest Seasonal rainfall wet/dry season Generally warm year round Dense canopy Plants drop leaves during a particular season Savanna Seasonal rainfall Warm Compact soil Grasses Occasional fire and drought Large herbivores Desert Low precipitation less than 25cm Variable temperatures Cold and hot Temperate Grassland Grasses Fertile soils Periodic fires Large herbivores Temperate Woodland & Shrubland (Chaparral) Shrubs, grasses, wildflowers Periodic fires Hot dry summers, cool wet winters Nutrient-poor soils Temperate Forests Broadleaf deciduous and coniferous trees (seed bearing cones & needle shaped leaves) Rich in humus (formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter) Fertile soils Year round precip midlattitude NW Coniferous forest Mild temp, moist air Abundant rainfall Aka Temperate rainforest Lush vegetation Conifers Rocky acidic soils Boreal Forest Aka taiga Cold winters Mild summers Mostly in northern hemisphere Mostly conifers Tundra Permafrost (layer of permanently frozen soil) Soil thaws only a few cm in short summer Plants small and stunted Cold temps High winds Short growing season Little precip Climate Weather: day to day at a particular place and time Climate: average conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular region – – – – Caused by trapping of heat Latitude Transport of heat by winds and ocean currents Shape and elevation of mountains Greenhouse Effect Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range. Natural situation w/o gases earth would be 30 °C colderyikes Effect of Latitude on Climate Three main climate zones – Polar Sun’s rays strike at a very low angle Effect of Latitude on Climate Three main climate zones – Polar Sun’s rays strike at a very low angle – Temperate Between polar and tropical Effect of Latitude on Climate Three main climate zones – Polar Sun’s rays strike at a very low angle – Temperate Between polar and tropical – Tropical Near the equator between 23.5° N and 23.5° S Direct or nearly direct sunlight year round Heat Transport Unequal heating of Earth’s surface drives winds and ocean currents Warm air rises and cool air sinks causing winds to form Coriolis Effect In the northern hemisphere deflects to the right Opposite in southern Result of earth’s rotation Ocean Currents Rain Shadow caused by mountains As air rises, it cools and condenses causing moisture and rain. Cool, dry, air sinks and warms up on the leeward side Rain Shadow Upwelling transport of colder deeper water to more shallow water. Brings nutrients to surface Land and Sea Breezes Sea breeze: During the day, the land gets hotter faster, and the hot air rises, creating an area of lower pressure. Wind blows from the sea to the land. Land and Sea Breezes Sea breeze: During the day, the land gets hotter faster, and the hot air rises, creating an area of lower pressure. Wind blows from the sea to the land. Land breeze: At night, the land cools off faster than the sea. Cooler air descends creating an area of higher pressure. Wind blows from the land to the sea.