1. Section 2
Biomes
Chapter 3

2. Types of Biomes Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic Biomes Biomes on land
Rain Forests
Tropical Forests
Desert
Aquatic Biomes
Biomes in the water
Oceans
Lakes
Streams & Rivers

3. Terrestrial Biomes
Ecosystems on land are grouped into biomes that are usually based on the plant communities within them.
Why Plants?
The type of plants in a biome is determined by abiotic factors.
However, the animals in an biome are determined by what types and how many plants are available.

4. Effects of latitude and climate
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time
The climate are described by an areas average temperature and precipitation
One of the keys to understanding communities is to be aware of latitude and climatic conditions.

5. Latitude
The distance of any point on the surface of the Earth north or south from the equator is latitude
The equator receives the most direct sunlight.
Because of this the Earth is broken up into different zones:
Polar
Temperate
Tropical
An areas latitude has the largest effect on climate

6. Graphing Skills The graph shows:
Temperature (x-axis)
Precipitation (y-axis)
Not seen on the graph but equally important:
Elevation
Continental landmasses
Ocean currents

7. Review
A biome is a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities.
Biomes are classified by their
Plants
Temperature
Precipitation

8. Interpreting Graphs
The biomes that have the highest average temperature:
Tropical Rain Forests
Tropical Seasonal Forests
Tropical Savanna
Desert

9. Interpreting Graphs The biome that has the lowest average temperature:
Tundra
The biome that has the most annual precipitation:
Tropical Rain Forest
The biome that has the least annual precipitation:
Desert

10. Interpreting Graphs
The average temperature range of a temperate forest:
5-20ºC (______ºF)
The approximate annual precipitation in a tropical seasonal forest is:
cm (_______ in)

11. Winds on earth Winds are created from:
Temperature imbalances
Distinct global wind systems transport cold air to warm areas and warm are to cold areas.

12. Earth’s ocean currents
Ocean currents carry warm water toward:
The poles
Once it gets there it cools and sinks toward the ocean floor and then moves toward tropical regions.

13. Greenhouse effect Three important greenhouse gases are:
Water vapor
Caron dioxide CO2
Methane CH4
These gases warm the surface by reducing the amount of energy that Earth can radiate into space.

14. Human Impact on the atmosphere
The ozone layer is a protective layer in the atmosphere that absorbs most of the harmful UV radiations from the sun.

15. Human Impact on the atmosphere
Atmospheric studies indicate that CFC’s contribute to a seasonal reduction in ozone concentration over Antarctica.
Forming the Antarctic Ozone Hole.

16. Human Impact on the atmosphere
The burning of Fossil Fuels is mainly responsible for the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Because of this the average global temperature has increased.