Terrestrial Biomes Lecture Review

This set of 15 vocabulary flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to terrestrial biomes, their defining characteristics, and the factors that influence their distribution, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Biological Systems Hierarchy

The organizational levels of life, from atoms to the biosphere, illustrating increasing complexity.

Biomes

Regions defined by their predominant vegetation, largely influenced by climate.

Predominant Vegetation

The primary plant life that characterizes a biome.

Climograph

A graphical representation showing the average annual temperature and precipitation, used to interpret major terrestrial biomes.

Temperature and Precipitation

The two main climatic factors that determine the location of different terrestrial biomes.

Altitude

The height above sea level, which affects temperature and precipitation and thus biome distribution.

Latitude

The angular distance of a place north or south of the equator, affecting temperature and precipitation patterns.

Soil

A local factor influencing biomes, including properties like nutrients, pH, and minerals.

Disturbances

Events like fire, tornadoes, floods, or volcanoes that can determine whether a region becomes a grassland or forest.

Solar-Driven Air Circulation

The process where unequal heating of Earth's surface by the sun drives air movement and precipitation patterns.

Rain Shadow

An area on the leeward side of a mountain range that receives little precipitation because the mountains block moist air.

Hadley Cell

A large-scale atmospheric circulation cell in which warm, moist air rises near the equator, cools, drops rain, and then cool, dry air descends at around 30 degrees latitude.

Equator

The imaginary line around the Earth that receives the most concentrated sunlight, leading to higher temperatures and rising moist air.

Seasons

Periods of the year with distinct weather patterns, which are more pronounced at higher latitudes due to Earth's axial tilt.

Microclimate

Localized climatic conditions differing from the general climate of an area, influenced by factors like bodies of water or topography.

Biological Systems Hierarchy

The organizational levels of life, from atoms to the biosphere, illustrating increasing complexity.

Biomes

Regions defined by their predominant vegetation, largely influenced by climate.

Predominant Vegetation

The primary plant life that characterizes a biome.

Climograph

A graphical representation showing the average annual temperature and precipitation, used to interpret major terrestrial biomes.

Temperature and Precipitation

The two main climatic factors that determine the location of different terrestrial biomes.

Altitude

The height above sea level, which affects temperature and precipitation and thus biome distribution.

Latitude

The angular distance of a place north or south of the equator, affecting temperature and precipitation patterns.

Soil

A local factor influencing biomes, including properties like nutrients, pH, and minerals.

Disturbances

Events like fire, tornadoes, floods, or volcanoes that can determine whether a region becomes a grassland or forest.

Solar-Driven Air Circulation

The process where unequal heating of Earth's surface by the sun drives air movement and precipitation patterns.

Rain Shadow

An area on the leeward side of a mountain range that receives little precipitation because the mountains block moist air.

Hadley Cell

A large-scale atmospheric circulation cell in which warm, moist air rises near the equator, cools, drops rain, and then cool, dry air descends at around 30 degrees latitude.

Equator

The imaginary line around the Earth that receives the most concentrated sunlight, leading to higher temperatures and rising moist air.

Seasons

Periods of the year with distinct weather patterns, which are more pronounced at higher latitudes due to Earth's axial tilt.

Microclimate

Localized climatic conditions differing from the general climate of an area, influenced by factors like bodies of water or topography.

Terrestrial Biomes

Land-based ecosystems characterized by distinct plant communities and climate conditions.

Aquatic Biomes

Water-based ecosystems, including freshwater (lakes, rivers) and marine (oceans, coral reefs) environments.

Tropical Forest

Biomes found near the equator, characterized by high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and high biodiversity.

Desert

Biomes characterized by very low precipitation, extreme temperatures (hot days, cold nights), and sparse vegetation adapted to arid conditions.

Temperate Grassland

Biomes characterized by rich soil, moderate rainfall, dominant grasses, and seasonal temperature variations, often found in interiors of continents.

Tundra

Cold, treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, low-growing vegetation, and short growing seasons, found at high latitudes or altitudes.