{The Biosphere

Our Home. Part 1

The Biosphere:

• “A thin layer of air, land and water on or near the Earth’s surface”

• All living things exist in the biosphere

Biomes•A biome is the largest subdivision of the biosphere.

•A biome is defined by two characterises: biotic and

abiotic components.• Biotic component: relates to the living organisms

that exist in an biome. • (i.e. Animals, plants, fungi, bacteria etc.)• Abiotic component: the non-living portion of an

environment. • (i.e. Sunlight, soil, moisture, temperature etc.)

•A biome consists of similar biotic and abiotic components

BiomesThere are 8 main terrestrial biomes: boreal forest, desert, grassland, permanent ice, temperate deciduous forest, temperate rainforest, tropical rainforest & tundra.

Factors that influence biomes

•Two main abiotic factors which influence biomes are temperature and precipitation (rain, snow, mist and fog)

Factors which influence temperature and precipitation

•Latitude: the distance (north or south) from the equator (horizontal line crossing through the earth)

•Elevation: The height of land compared to sea level

•Ocean Currents: The flow of ocean water

Latitude

•The equator is found at 0◦. Moving away will change the degrees away from the equation• For example, the border between British

Columbia and Washington State is 49 ◦ North.

•The equator is almost directly underneath the sun, and therefore it receives almost 12 hours of sunlight each day all year long (influences temperature)

•The latitude also influences precipitation (rain, snow ,sleet and hail) the equator receives the most rainfall on earth.