AP Environmental Science - Climate, Aquatic & Biomes Diagram

Climate

Average weather that occurs in a region over a long period. (Usually 30 years)

Troposphere

Most of the N2, O2 and H2O vapor is here. Densest Layer of Atmosphere. Where weather occurs.

Stratosphere

Less dense. Ozone is formed here. Blocks UV radiation

Albedo

% of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface, the ability of an object to reflect light

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of an objects path due to Earth's rotation

Upwelling

Deeper water rising and replacing the previous water. (The upward movement) brings in nutrients

El Nino-Southern Oscillation

ENSO Periodic changes in winds and ocean currents.

Rain Shadows

one side of a mountain receives all the rain while another does not due to moisture falling on the windward side of the mountain

Biome

Area of the Earth with a particular combination of average annual temperature and annual precipitation and contain distinctive plant growth forms that are adapted to its climate.

Tundra

Cold, treeless, low growing vegetation. Completely frozen in winter.

Permafrost

Underlying frozen subsoil prevents water from draining and roots from penetrating.

Boreal Forest

Forests made of cone bearing evergreen trees which can tolerate winter.

Temperate Rainforest

Moderate temps and high precipitation.

Temperate Seasonal Forest

More abundant than temperate rainforests.

Woodland/Shrubland (Chaparral)

Hot, dry summers and mild rainy winters. 12 month growing season but restricted in summer and in winter. Prone to fire.

Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert

Biome has the lowest average precipitation of any biome. Cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers.

Tropical Rainforests

Near the equator. Warm with lots of precipitation. Little seasonal temperature variation.

Tropical Seasonal Grassland/Savanna

Warm Temperatures and distinct wet/dry seasons.

Littoral Zone

Shallow area of soil and water near the shore of a lake where algae and plants grow. Most photosynthesis occurs here

Limnetic Zone

Open water in a lake where rooted plants can't live

Phytoplankton

Only photosynthetic organisms in the open water.

Benthic Zone

Muddy bottom of a lake/pond or ocean

Freshwater Wetlands

Aquatic biomes that are submerged or saturated by water for at least part of the year, but still support species of plants that can live in wet soils. (part II)

Salt Marshes

Nonwoody emergent vegetation. Along the coast in temperate climates.

Mangrove Swamps

Along tropical/subtropical coasts. Contain trees whose roots are submerged in water. Salt tolerant.

Intertidal Zone

Narrow band of coastline between levels of high and low tide. Steep to Rocky. Harsh conditions with water crashing all around.

Coral Reefs

Warm, Shallow waters beyond the coastline. Most diverse marine biome.

Coral Bleaching

Algae inside corals will die. This will cause the coral to die. The reef will then turn white.

Photic Zone

Upper layer of water that receives sunlight for photosynthesis.

Aphotic Zone

Layer of water that does not get sunlight for photosynthesis. (

Chemosynthesis

Bacteria using energy from the bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide. Found in the deep ocean.

stratosphere

layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone

equator

at this location air rises and large amounts of precipitation fall, the center of the earth

el nino

this phenomenon is characterized by weakened trade winds and a lack of upwelling in the Pacific Ocean

la nina

this phenomenon is characterized by strong trade winds and upwelling in the Pacific Ocean

Weather

Current state of the atmosphere

Atmospheric Convection Current

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth