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Weather vs. Climate
• Weather – the day-to-day condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a certain time and place.
• Climate – the average yearly condition of temperature and precipitation in a region.
• Carbon dioxide and other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range. These gases function like the glass windows of a greenhouse.
Therefore, the trapping of heat by gases in the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect.
• This greenhouse effect helps temperatures on Earth stay within a range that supports life. Latitude also affects climate. Earth has three main climate zones:
• Polar
• Temperate
• Tropical
What is a biome? A biome is a particular physical environment that contains a characteristic assemblage of plants and animals and has a particular climate. Within a biome, there may be microclimates. A species may live over a large or small area, depending on its ability to survive and reproduce under tough conditions.
Tropical Rainforest• Home to more species than all other
biomes combined. • The weather is hot and wet all year
round. • Found near the equator.
Tropical Savanna• Characterized by a cover of
grass. Spotted with isolated trees and shrubs.
• Home to largest land animals in the world.
• Warm temperatures and seasonal rainfall.
Temperate Grassland• Characterized by a cover of
grass. • Most commonly found in the
USA. • Temperatures range from cold
to warm, based on the season. Rainfall also varies based on season.
Desert• DRY, defined as having less
than 25 cm of rain a year. • Usually thought of as hot, but
temperatures can actually vary greatly.
• Organisms that live in this biome can tolerate extreme conditions.
Temperate Forest• Contain a mixture of deciduous and
coniferous trees. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the autumn.
• Cold winters and warm summers. Year-round precipitation.
Boreal Forest (Taiga)• Contain mostly coniferous trees. • Winters are VERY cold, but summers
are mild and long enough for the ground to thaw.
• Mostly occurs in the northern hemisphere