AP Enviro: Terrestrial Biomes

  • Tundra: A cold and treeless biome with low-growing vegetation defined by permafrost, a frozen layer of soil that prevents drainage.

    • Climate diagram: growing season during June, July, August, September, but remain low. Average precipitation remains low (less than 100 mm

  • Taiga: a forest biome made of primarily coniferous evergreen trees that tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons, sometimes referred to as a boreal forest

    • Climate diagram: growing season during April, May, June, July, August, and September. Reach about 20 degrees celsius. Precipitation remains under 100 mm. 

  • Temperate Rainforest: a coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation

    • Climate diagram: growing season is all year. Reach about 20 degrees celsius. Precipitation is just under 200 mm. 

  • Temperate seasonal forest: a biome with warm summers and cold winters with over 1m (39 in) of annual precipitation

    • Climate diagram: growing season is all year. Temperatures are just under 20 degrees celsius. Precipitation is under 100 mm. 

  • Shrubland: also known as woodland, is characterized by hot, dry summers, and mild, rainy winters

    • Climate diagram: growing season all year, Highest Precipitation is just over 100 mm. 

  • Temperate Grassland: also referred to as a cold desert, typically has cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers

    • Climate diagram: growing season is all year. Precipitation remains under 100 mm. 

  • Tropical rainforests:  warm and wet biome found between 20° N and 20° S of the equator, with little seasonal temperature variation, and high precipitation, soils are typically poor

    • Climate Diagram: temperatures remain relatively constant, underneath 30 degrees. Precipitation is erratic but reaches heights of 400 mm. 

  • Savanna: also known as tropical seasonal forest, is known for warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons

    • Climate diagrams: average precipitation reaches highs about 250, but is low the rest of the year. Temperature remains constant, around 20 degrees celsius. 

  • Hot Desert biomes: located at roughly 30° N and 30° S with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation

    • Climate diagrams: no precipitation. Temperatures around 20 degrees celsius