Global Biomes

Question 1

what climatic factors determine the vegetation of an area?

Answer 1

latitude
rainfall
height

Question 2

name 4 major global biomes

Answer 2

tundra
temperate grassland
hot desserts
tropical rainforests

Question 3

tundra

Answer 3

• covers 6% of earth’s land surface
• found in extremely high latitudes, generally polewards of 60°
• includes, northern Alaska and Canada, Greenland and northern Russia
• warmest month has average temp between 0° and 10°
• due to extreme low temperatures there are no trees and only low-laying hardy plants can survive

Question 4

temperate grassland

Answer 4

• covers 7% of earth’s land surface
• found mid-latitudes between 30°N and 50°N. the bands are more extensive and are found in the continental interiors of North America and north Asian countries eg Mongolia.
• In southern hemisphere between 30°S and 40°S temperate grasslands are less extensive. they are found on the eastern coast of south America and further inland South Africa and Austrailia

Question 5

hot deserts

Answer 5

• covers 12% of earth’s land surface
• located between 15° and 30°N/S where the easterly Tradewinds blow.
• mostly found towards the western side of the continents including; deserts of Mexico, southwestern USA, Atacama in South America, the Namib desert in South Africa and the Australian desert.
• the Sahara desert in Northern Africa extends from the western side of the continent, right across the to the east.

Question 6

tropical rainforests

Answer 6

• covers 13% of earth’s land surface, however it is declining
• generally found within 10°N/S of the equator
• they include; Amazon basin in south America, Congo basin in west central Africa and the southeast of Asia
• they are more biodiverse biome with species numbers increasing as remote forests in Borneo and Peruvian Highlands are explored