Biomes and Biosphere

what is an ecosystem

a system formed by interactions between organisms (biotic) and their environment (abiotic)

what are biomes

major types of habitat characterized by distinctive plant and animal life

what are biomes subdivided into

terrestrial and aquatic

what is the biosphere

regions on the surface of earth and its atmosphere where living organisms exists

what are biomes characterized by

characterized by distinct animal plant life

what are terrestrial biomes largely classified by

their temperature and precipitation

what types of factors matter but are less critical for classification, but still important for distribution of life

soil types, winds, etc…

what are terrestrial biomes

classified by annual precipitation and temperature

what are aquatic biomes classified by

• water salinity

• current strength

• water depth

• oxygen content

• light availability

what are biomes shaped by

global climate

how does weather connect to biomes

short term or atmospheric conditions in a particular place and time

what response do organisms have towards weather

a behavioural response of organisms

how does climate connect to biomes

average atmospheric conditions in a particular place over a longer period of time time (years to a millennia)

what do filters determine in regards to climate

distribution and abundance of organisms

how does global climate connect to biomes

major abiotic factors shaping the distribution of life on earth

what creates climate patterns

• pattern of solar radiation

• potation of the earth

how much solar energy that hits the earth in reflected

30%

where does the rest of the solar energy that hits he earth go? (the other 70%)

most is absorbed by the earths atmosphere (20%) or the surface (50%)

what does the atmosphere trap and what does it moderate

heat energy and moderates the earths temperature

what do greenhouse gases allow

allow sunlight to enter but trap heat

what do greenhouse gases include

H2O, CO2, methane, O3, nitrous oxides (NO and NO2) and pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

where does solar energy inout vary

with latitude

how does the sunlight strike the earth towards the north pole

at a shallow angle and is spread over a larger area, so the its energy is diffused

where does sunlight strike at and near the earths equator

strike earth at a steep angle, delivering more heat and light per unit area

where does sunlight strike towards the south pole

more sunlight is also reflected by the atmosphere and earths surface whenvit strikes at a shallow angle

what do high latitude cause in regards to solar input

solar input more bread out, and more energy is absorbed in the atmosphere

what does being near the equator cause in regards to solar input

solar inout more focused and direct

are temperatures in the northern or southern hemisphere more variable

northern hemispheres

what does solar energy determine

atmospheric circulation and global precipitation patterns

where is the highest solar energy input on earth

at the equator

what happens to warm air at the equator

warm air rises, cools, and releases precipitation

what type of climate forms where warm, mist air Rises

wet, tropical climates (e.g., tropical rainforests)

what happened to the air around 30° latitude

air cools, sinks, and creates dry climates

• what biomes are commonly found at ~30° latitude

hot desserts

why are deserts often located at 30° N/S

sinking dry air makes the climate dry

what happens to air at ~60° latitude

warm air rises again, cools, and causes precipitation

what biomes are common around 60° latitude

evergreen coniferous forests and temperate deciduous forests

what happened at the poles (90° latitude)

cold, sry air sinks, creating cold desserts (polar desserts)

what are major wind belts near the equator

northeast and southeast trade winds

what are the major wind belts between 30° and 60° latitude

westerlies

what drives global atmospheric circulation

uneven solar heating of earths surface

why does precipitation generally occur near the equator

because rising warm air cools and condenses into rain

why do we see bids of climate zones (tropical → desert → temperate → coniferous → polar)

because global circulation moves air up and down in predictable patterns

what is “precipitable water”

atmospheric water vapour available for precipitation

where is precipitable water highest

near the equator

precipitable water is

• very high at the equator

• very low at ~ ± 30° latitude of the equator

• moderate at ~ ± 45-60° latitude of the equator

• very low near polar regions

• greatest over oceans

• lowest over land mass

what are terrestrial biomes classified by

annual precipitation and temperature

what are some characteristics of tropical rainforests

• rainfall exceeds 230cm/year

• temperature averages 25-29C

• shallow soil, nutrient poor

• extensive biome, equatorial

• rich animal and plant life

what are some characteristics of hoe desserts

• Rainfall <30 cm/year

• ~20-30° latitudes

• plant life highly specialized

• ectotherms (reptiles and seed eating insects) and endothermic mammals

• temperate variable

  • ranges from below freezing to 50°C

what are some characteristics of temperate forests

• rainfall 72-200 cm/year

• temperature variable (-15 to 30C)

• plant life: sugar maples, red spruce, eastern hemlock

what are some characteristics of tundra

• Rainfall <25 cm/ year

• permafrost

• temperature: midwinter averages -32, Sumer 3-12C

• plant life: lichens, mosses, grasses, some shrubs but no trees (lack of water)

• Animals: birds, hares, caribou

what causes prevailing winds on earth

earths rotation

in which direction do winds and currents deflect in the northern hemisphere

to the right

in which direction do winds and currents deflect in the southern hemisphere

to the left

what is the Coriolis effect

the deflection of air or water due to differences in earths rotational speed at different latitudes

where is earths rotational speed fastest

at the equator

where is earth rotational speed slowest

at the poles

what is the earths equatorial low (ITCZ)

a zone where warm air rises and moves toward the poles

what type of winds occur at the equator

trade winds (easterly; east-to-west)

what type of winds occur in temperate regions (30°-60°)

westerlies (west to east)

what type of winds occur near the poles

polar easterlies (east to west)

what is found at about 30° latitude

the subtropical high (dry, sinking air)

what is found at about 60° latitude

the sub polar low (rising warm air the cools and causes precipitation)

where are prevailing winds weakest

over land

why do winds move east to weather along arid deserts at ~30° latitude

because of the trade winds (easterlies)

why do winds move west to east along temperate regions

because of the westerlies

what happens to warm air at the equator

it rises and moves towards higher latitudes

what happens to cool dense air at the poles

it sinks and moves toward Lower latitudes

what are characteristics of prevailing winds

• strongest over oceans

• weakest over land mass

which way do winds move along the desert

moving easy to west along arid deserts at about ± 30° latitudes of the equator

which way do winds move along temperate regions

moving east to west and ~45-60° latitude

where does winds move at the poles

east to west

what do highest regions have

less winds

what are ocean currents driven by

prevailing winds

what is an example of ocean currents driven by winds

trade winds cause currents at the equator to move west until they hit a continent and are deflected

what causes the seasons on earth

earths axis is tilted 23.5°, changing how much sunlight different regions revive during the year

what two factors create seasonal variation

earths tilt and earths earths orbit around the sun

what varies across the seasons due to earths tilt

temperature and day length

when the northern hemisphere is tilted tower the sun, what season is it there

summer

when the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, what season is it in the southern hemisphere

winter

wen the southern hemisphere is tilted toward to sun, what season does it experience

summer

what date I the sinter solstice in the northern hemisphere

December 22

what happens during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere

• northern hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun

• shortest day, longest night

what date id the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere

June 22

what happens during the summer solstice in northern hemisphere

• hemisphere is tilted toward the sun

• longest day, shortest night

what is an equinox

a day when day and night are equal in length

what date is the autumnal equinox

September 23

what date is Vernal (spring) equinox

March 21

what season begin in the northern hemisphere at the autumnal equinox

fall

what season begins in the northern hemisphere at the Vernal equinox

spring

what does earths 23.5° tilt directly affect

the angle and intensity of sunlight hitting different latitudes

what is “plant productivity”

how much plants grow or how much photosynthesis occurs

what global factor controls seasonal plant productivity

changing sunlight levels between seasons

which plants are measured in NASAs productivity maps

terrestrial plants and marine algae

why do plant productivity levels change through the year

because sunlight availability changes due to earths tilt and orbit

what are the 2 levels of chlorophyll in seasonal change

terrestrial plants and marine algae

what hemisphere was little plants productivity

northern hemisphere

what region has lost of plant productivity

Southern

when are these productivity times reversed

during summer

what is the biosphere

the regions on the surface of the earth and atmosphere where living things exist