2.4 Climate and Biomes

Flashcards on climate, biomes, and climate change impacts.

What is the difference between climate and weather?

Climate describes atmospheric conditions over long periods, while weather describes conditions over a short period.

What is a biome?

A group of comparable ecosystems that have developed in similar climatic conditions, wherever they occur.

What are the major influences on the distribution of terrestrial biomes?

Precipitation, temperature, and insolation.

What are the main factors governing the distribution of biomes?

Insolation, precipitation, and temperature.

Name the five major classes that biomes can be grouped into.

Aquatic, forest, grassland, desert, and tundra.

What abiotic factors characterize each biome group?

Limiting factors, productivity, and diversity.

What does the tricellular model of atmospheric circulation explain?

The behaviour of atmospheric systems and the distribution of precipitation and temperature at different latitudes, influencing the structure and productivity of terrestrial biomes.

How do oceans affect global temperature?

Oceans absorb solar radiation and ocean currents distribute the resulting heat around the world.

What is the general trend happening to biomes due to global warming?

Biomes are moving poleward and to higher altitudes.

List three general patterns of climate types which are connected to specific biomes.

Tropical, temperate, and polar.

What are some secondary influences or human interventions that can prevent a biome from developing as predicted by temperature and rainfall patterns?

Urban or agricultural development.

What is the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle?

The fluctuation in wind and sea surface temperatures that characterizes conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

Name the two opposite and extreme states of the ENSO cycle.

El Niño and La Niña.

What are the characteristics of El Niño?

Warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

What are the characteristics of La Niña?

Cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and strengthened trade winds.

Does El Nino weaken or strengthen trade winds?

El Nino is characterized by weakened trade winds or even a reversal of their usual direction

What is Walker Circulation

Walker Circulation typically moves warm water from the Eastern Pacific to the western Pacific and is disrupted during El Nino.

What are tropical cyclones?

Rapidly circulating storm systems with a low-pressure centre that originate in the tropics and are characterized by strong winds.

How do rising ocean temperatures affect hurricanes and typhoons?

They increase the intensity and frequency of hurricanes and typhoons because warmer water and air have more energy.