1. Biomes History: Ancient Greeks used to classify the environment into zones which had different degrees of warmth. This resulted in Aristotle describing the terrain in terms of flora and fauna. What determines a biome: 1.Precipitation 2.Temperature The main elements of the weather (day-to-day) that are measured are- 1. Temperature 2. Wind (Direction and Speed) 3. Humidity 4. Precipitation 5. Sunshine

3. World Biomes Map Our world is a diverse and beautiful place filled with a range of environments. As Earth scientists, we strive to understand the Earth as a system and how each part compares and works with another. We know that heat transfer occurs constantly Radiation Conduction Convection Creates uneven heating of the Earth’s surface Effects the physical and biological landforms based on the climate conditions, controlled by convective cells and the amount of solar radiation absorbed by Earth surface This creates biomes in different regions on Earth

4. Biomes & Climate Earth’s tropospheric convective cells are the driving force to create different climates in different regions –Hadley Cell –Ferrel Cell –Polar Cell Air pressure belts control the movement of air at different latitudes –RULE: Warm air rises, Cool air sinks –Air moves from HIGH pressure to LOW pressure Rules for Air Movement and Climate –Air Rising= Rain= Wet Climates –Air Sinking= No Rain= Dry Climates Temperature –Near Equator = Warm Hot Climate –Middle Latitudes (40-60 ⁰N/S)= Mild Climate – Near Poles= Cold Climate

5. Atmospheric Circulation and Biomes In general: Hadley Cell 0 ⁰ (Equator)= Tropical Rainforest 20-35 ⁰ N/S = Hot Deserts Ferrel Cell (Middle Latitudes) 30-50 ⁰N/S = Subtropical regions, Chaparral, Savannah, & grasslands 40-60 ⁰N/S =Deciduous Forest Polar Cell 60-90 ⁰N/S= Taiga & Cold Deserts/ Tundra

6. Atmospheric Circulation and Biomes Köppen Classification System: Wladimir Koppen was a German botanist and climatologist that studied and divided the Earth into climate regions using temperature and precipitation data. 5 main divisions based on annual (yearly) temperatures: A - Tropical Moist Climates: all months have average temperatures above 18° Celsius. B - Dry Climates: with deficient precipitation during most of the year. C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters. D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters. E - Polar Climates: with extremely cold winters and summers.

8. Climatograms Climatograms show a city’s or region’s temperatures (maximum, average, and minimum) and Precipitation throughout the year. Some graphs show day length, relative humidity, average sunlight, days with frost, etc. In this graph: The blue bars tell you the amount of precipitation. In Rio de Janeiro for this particular year. The red, orange and yellow lines show temperature. As you can see from the graph, temperatures in Rio are generally high with varying rainfall throughout the year. This graph shows that Rio is a tropical rainforest

9. Tropical Rainforest Located along the equator due to warm, moist air rising This creates high rainfall This area receives direct sunlight, creating a very hot climate In general, tropical rainforests have hot and humid climates where it rains virtually everyday. Locations on Earth: – Central America, South America (Amazon), Eastern Madagascar

10. Tropical Rainforest Climatogram The different color bars represent the precipitation of the region. As you can see, the amount of precip. varies throughout the year. – High- 300 mm (11 inches) in March – Low- 10 mm (less 1 inch) in November The line across the top represents average temperature. As you can see, temperature in the tropical rainforest stays the same.

11. Temperate Rainforest Found in the mid- latitudes Caused from rising moist air with mild temperatures High amounts of precipitation throughout the year Locations: – Northwest U.S.A (Washington, Oregon) – Japan – United Kingdom

12. Temperate Rainforest Climatogram The bars represent precipitation. In this graph, there is high rainfall but it varies throughout the year. The lines represent temperature (red= max., purple= avg., blue= min.) In this graph, it shows temperatures vary with season throughout the year in this region. – High 80 mm (3 inches) in December – Low ~25 mm (less than an inch) in July In general, Temperate Rainforest have seasons and high amounts of precipitation throughout the year.

13. Desert Occurs between 15-28⁰N/S Caused from sinking dry air There is very little precipitation in these regions As air sinks, the warm temperatures cause water vapor in the air to evaporate instead of releasing as rain. Locations: – Sahara Desert & Kalahari (Africa), Great Australian Desert (Australia), Mojave Desert (United States)

14. Desert Climatogram The green bars show precipitation In this graph, there is very low precipitation throughout the year – High- 30 mm (1 inch) – Low- 15 mm (0.5 inches The lines show temperature for max., avg., and min.) In this graph, you can see that temperatures vary throughout the year – High- July 30⁰C (86⁰F) – Low- December 12⁰C (53⁰F)

15. Deciduous Forest Occur between 25-50⁰N/S There are 4 distinct seasons in this biome Temperature and precipitation vary throughout the year Locations: – Eastern U.S.A – Most of Europe – Northeast Asia

16. Deciduous Forest Climatogram The green bars represent precipitation In this graph, precipitation varies – High- 130 mm (5 inches) – Low- 77 mm (3 inches) The lines represent the temperature (max., avg., min.) – High- 30⁰C (86⁰F) – Low- -5⁰C (23⁰f) In general, the climate in this region varies with season

17. Savanna Occurs near tropical latitudes 2 distinct seasons In the winter it is dry, very little precipitation with cooler temperatures In the summer it is wet and hot Locations: – Africa (Kenya, Zimbabwe), Northern Australia, Honduras

18. Savanna Climatogram Bars show precipitation In this graph, the winter months show high precipitation compared to the summer months. Lines show temperature. (red-max., purple-avg., blue-min.) In this graph, temperature drops slightly in the winter compared to the summer.

19. Grassland Occurs at the mid- latitudes 55° N to 30° S Also known as a prairie Summers are warm and humid with rain Winters temperatures become colder but not extreme and dry Very windy because it is so flat in these areas Locations: – Midwest U.S.A (Great Plains) – Pampas of Argentina

20. Grassland Climatogram The bars represent the amount of precipitation for this region. In this graph, you can see that the summer month are a time of higher rainfall and the winter months have very little rainfall – High- ~130 mm (5 inches) – Low- ~30 inches (1 inch) The red (max), purple (avg) and blue (min) lines represent temperature for this city. – Max High- 34⁰C (93⁰F) – Min Low- -4⁰C (24⁰F) In general, you can see that temperatures vary within this region because they are located in the mid- latitudes and amount of rainfall is seasonal.

21. Chaparral Occur in Mid-latitudes – 30° to 50° N and 30° to 40° S latitudes Lie in a belt of Westerly winds Tend to occur on western sides of continents. Known as a Mediterranean Climate In the summer it is very hot and dry. Very little precipitation during the summer months, causing this area to be vulnerable to fires. Avg. precipitation is 10-17 inches for the year, usually occurs in the winter months. Locations: – Central and Southern Coast of California, Along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Western Australia

22. Chaparral Climatogram Green bars represent precipitation for L.A. In this graph you can see that there is very little rainfall in this region throughout the year. Lines represent temperature In this graph you can see that the temperature is warm and does not vary much throughout the year

23. Taiga/ Boreal Forest Occurs in Polar regions Because of earth's tilt, the taiga is turned away from the sun in the winter. Less of the sun's radiation reaches the ground to warm it up. Exceptionally cold winds bring bitterly cold air Winter, with it's freezing cold temperatures, lasts for six to seven months Summer is a rainy, hot and short season Fall is the shortest season Spring brings flowers, the frozen ponds melt, and the animals come out from hibernation. Locations: – Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia and China

24. Taiga/ Boreal Forest Climatogram Green bars represent precipitation In this graph you can see the summer months have the highest rainfall and winter months have very little precipitation. – High- 49 mm (~1 inch) – Low- 8 mm (0.3 inches) Lines represent temperature (red= max., purple= avg., blue= min.,) In this graph, the temperature varies with season. – Summer warmest- 22⁰C (71⁰ F) – Winter coldest - -28⁰C (-18⁰F) In general, you can see that there is little precipitation for this biome and temperatures remain generaly cool throughout the year.