1. 1.4 Climates & Biomes
Page

2. Today’s Weather… What is it like outside?
Describe what it is like in at least 1 paragraph.

3. What is it supposed to be like tomorrow?

4. What is it supposed to be like for the rest of the week?

5. What is the difference between the weather and the climate?

6. Weather
Weather is determined by current atmospheric conditions, which result from interactions between air pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind.
Energy from the Sun controls the weather by controlling rates of water evaporation into the atmosphere. The water then forms clouds and falls back to Earth as precipitation. The Sun also heats air and this controls the amount of wind.

7. Climate
Climate is determined by averaging the weather over a long period of time, such as 30 or 40 years. Some of the averaged weather patterns include temperature, precipitation, air pressure, humidity, and yearly number of days of sunshine. Factors directly affecting climate are latitude, topography, ocean currents, location of large bodies of water, and locations of air masses.

8. Read page 20 & 21
Silently to yourself. Take note of the important terms (in bold print).

9. Air Masses
An air mass is a body of air which takes on the characteristics of the land over which it formed. For example, air masses that develop in tropical regions are warmer than air masses that develop in artic regions. Air masses can also be dry or moist depending on whether they formed over land or water.

10. Front
The boundary between two air masses is called a front. Fronts are accompanied by precipitation and storms. When two air masses meet, the air does not mix. Rather the cold air mass moves under the warm air mass, pushing it up. Different interactions cause changes in temperature, wind strength, and wind direction.

11. Microclimate
This is a very localized climate which may differ from the larger main climate surrounding it. Artificial structures such as buildings may create a microclimate near cities and towns.

12. Look at page 20
Figure 1.12A and 1.12B – What is the difference between the pictures?
They both have flat, grassy, rolling hills…
What is different?

13. Biome
A large area with characteristic climate, soil, plants, and animals. Each type of biome can be found in different parts of the world.

14. A biome is the 5th level of biological organization.
Look at page 20, figure 1.13 to see the 5 levels.
Take 1 entire page of loose leaf and draw the 5 levels of biological organization. (Put your name on it, label the levels, color, and pass in for evaluation).

15. Ecosystem + Ecosystem + Ecosystem + Ecosystem = Biome
There are many different ecosystems within 1 biome – what does this mean? Explain in one paragraph. Provide examples if you can. If you are stuck look at figure 1.13 on page 20 and think about the ‘bigger’ picture.

16. Tundra
The tundra biome is located in the high northern latitudes just below the permanent ice. The winters are very cold, harsh, and long. As a result of the latitude, winter days are very short, and summer days are equally long. The soil is nutrient poor, and the permafrost starts inches below the ground. There is very little variety in the plant life, and the growing season is very short. Only grasses, wildflowers, mosses, lichens, and the occasional small shrub grow.

17. Tundra con’t…
Considering how harsh the conditions are, there is an amazing variety of wildlife adapted to live in the tundra. Examples include musk oxen, caribou, arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, owls, hawks, rodents, and polar bears.

18. Boreal Forest
The boreal forest is located at mid to high latitudes. The winters are cold, and the summers are usually cool. The soil is nutrient and mineral poor, with a layer of decaying pine and spruce needles on top. The boreal forest is dominated by coniferous trees, with pine, fir, and spruce trees being the most common species. Many characteristic Canadian animals live in the boreal forest, including bears, lynx, caribou, wolves, mink, and sable.

19. Temperate Forest
The temperate forest is located at mid-latitudes, and it is characterized by relatively mild winters and summers. The soil is rich, consisting of topsoil over clay. The forested parts are primarily made up of deciduous trees – hard woods known as oaks, beeches, and maples. They are known for the spectacular color changes that occur in the fall as the leaves change color and fall off. The temperate forest is home to many different animals, including wolves, deer, bears, many small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

20. Tropical Rain Forest
Tropical rain forests are located near the equator. The climate is hot all year round, and 200 to 460cm of rain falls per year. Although there is a rainy season, there is frequent rain even in the dry season. Rarely does the rain last all day. The soil is nutrient poor because all of the nutrients are close to the surface and are constantly cycling through the plant and animal life.

21. Tropical rain forest con’t…
Tropical rain forests house the greatest diversity of plant life in any biome. Large trees, vines, ferns, and orchids are common. There is an incredible diversity of animal life, as well. It is estimated that tropical rain forests contain at least half of the species of terrestrial organisms, approximately 2 to 20 million species, depending on estimates.

22. Grassland
Grasslands are located at mid-latitudes, usually in the interior of continents. The climate is cool in winter and warm in summer. The soil is rich, with very nutritious topsoil. The plants are grasses, small shrubs, and trees near sources of water. Canadian grasslands are home to prairie dogs, foxes, small mammals, snakes, and birds. Before large scale hunting occurred, the grasslands were also home to huge herds of bison. African grasslands are home to lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes.

23. Desert
There are no true deserts in Canada, although the Okanagan Valley has desert-like conditions. True desert occurs at mid-latitudes, and it is characterized by hot days and cold nights. Deserts are very dry, receiving less than 25 cm of precipitation per year. Plants are rare, but cacti and sagebrush are adapted to withstand hot, dry conditions. Some grasses also survive. Large animals do not usually live in the desert, but rodents, snakes, lizards, birds, and some bats may be found there.

24. Draw Figure 1.18 (page 23) in your notebook. Be sure to include labels!

25. Read page 22

26. Weather and Climate in Canada
Handout BLM 1-13
Using Figure 1.15 on page 21, select two cities in each biome. Complete the sheet.

27. Biomes
If there were no mountains, no irregular outlines of continents sea temperatures, then there would be no different climatic effects and each biome would form a continuous belt around Earth.

28. Biomes are greatly affected by different elevations
Biomes are greatly affected by different elevations. For example, the vegetation found on top of high mountains, such as those in the Rockies, resembles the tundra biome because of temperature and climate at this elevation. Farther down the slopes, the vegetation resembles that found in the boreal forest.

29. Six Types of Biomes Handout BLM 1-15
Complete handout and pass in by next Science class.
Make sure your name is on it!

30. Read pages

31. Copy Question & Complete
What biome do you live in?
What are the dominant plants in your biome?
Are there any plant characteristics present in your biome that are also present in another biome? If so, please list.

32. Read page 24
Answer questions 1, 2, on page 24.

33. Page 25
“From the Fields” – answer question 1 & 2.

34. Pause & Reflect – page 25
In your Science Log, complete “Pause & Reflect.”

35. Technology & the Environment
Sometimes changing the ecosystem is intentional, but other times it is a by-product of using technology for another purpose.
Read “Pause & Reflect” on page 26 & complete in your science log.

36. Check your understanding… page 26
Copy & Complete questions 1,2,3,& 5 (omit #4)
Copy on loose leaf, neatly, name & date.
These questions are due tomorrow, they are to be passed in for evaluation.