Climatograph Biomes - SNC2DW-02

What biome?

Tundra

Tundra

• Temp/Seasons: Very cold, long winter, short cool summer (0–10°C)

• Soil: Permafrost (permanently frozen), thin soils

• Vegetation: Mosses, lichens, low shrubs, plants grow close to ground; few/no trees

• Precipitation: Low, mostly snow (<50 cm/year)

• Location: Northern Canada (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, 60–75° N)

What biome?

Permanent Ice

Permanant Ice

• Temp: Permanently frozen, extremely cold

• Seasons: Essentially no summer, long polar night

• Precipitation: Very low (<50 cm/year)

• Vegetation: Lichens, mosses (tolerate cold & drought)

• Location: Far north Canada (Arctic islands, Nunavut, 70–75° N)

Boreal Forest

Boreal Forest (Taiga)

• Temp: Long cold winters (-20 to -5°C), short warm summer (10–20°C)

• Seasons: Winter dominates, short summer

• Vegetation: Conifers (spruce, fir, pine), mosses

• Location: Central & eastern Canada, 50–65° N

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Temp: Warm summers (20–25°C), cold winters (0–5°C)

• Seasons: Four distinct seasons

• Vegetation: Deciduous trees (maple, oak, birch), shrubs, ferns

• Location: Southern Ontario & Quebec, 42–50° N

Temperate Rainforest

Temperate Rainforest

• Temp: Mild, wet winters (0–10°C), cool summers (10–20°C)

• Seasons: Mild, little seasonal variation

• Vegetation: Dense conifers (western red cedar, hemlock, fir)

• Location: West coast of BC, 48–55° N

Grassland

Desert

Grasslands

• Temp: Warm summers (20–30°C), cold winters (-5 to 5°C)

• Seasons: Distinct seasons

• Vegetation: Grasses, herbaceous plants, few scattered trees

• Location: Southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, 49–52° N

Deserts

• Temp: Hot summers, cold winters

• Seasons: Distinct seasons

• Precipitation: Very low (<25 cm/year)

• Vegetation: Plants with spiny leaves, deep roots (drought-adapted)

• Location: Southern British Columbia (northern edge of Great Basin Desert)