Climate & Biomes

1. Climate & Biomes

2. Definition • Climate - a measure of patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and weather phenomenon • Biomes - neighboring areas with similar climatic conditions and communities (plants, animals, and organisms)

3. Factors that impact climate→ • Latitude • The closer you are to the equator or the lower your latitude the more direct solar radiation you receive • The farther away you are to the equator of the higher your latitude the less direct solar radiation you receive • Earth is divided into three distinct biomes based on latitude • Tropics – Between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn • Temperate- between 23.5° and 66.5° latitude • Polar- above 66.5° latitude

4. Factors that impact climate→ • Vegetation • Vegetation impacts the amount of solar energy absorbed and released , which impacts temperature • Vegetation releases water through transpiration, which impacts precipitation • Water bodies • Large bodies of water can have a great affect on the temperature of an area • Areas that are close to water bodies have cooler summers and warmer winters

6. Biomes → • Tropics • The tropics receive an abundant amount of solar radiation causing the temperatures to be high • Tropics have an abundant amount of vegetation causing high amount of precipitation • Think Brazil or a rainforest • Temperate • Temperate areas have mild summers and winters • Think Charlotte, NC

7. Biomes → • Polar • Average temperature is below 50 °F with areas covered by permafrost and glaciers • In the summer months these areas will get longer periods of light and in the winter they will get longer periods of darkness • Penguins and polar bears will live here • Think Alaska or Greenland