Terrestrial Biomes Flashcards
1
Q
Why is one area of the Earth’s land surface a desert and another a grassland and another a forest?
A
Differences in Climate
2
Q
What’s the difference between Weather and Climate?
A
- Weather over a period of hours or day
- Climate at least 3 decades to thousands of years
3
Q
What are the Key Factors determining an area’s climate?
A
- incoming solar energy
- the Earth’s rotation
- global patterns of air and water movement
- gases in the atmosphere
- Eath’s surface features
4
Q
Average temp 0°C all year
Lat (60°-90° N or S)
A
POLAR
5
Q
Cold winters and mild summers (O°C-20°C)
Lat (30°-60° N or S)
A
TEMPERATE
6
Q
Hot, dry or wet all year (over 20°C)
Lat (0°-30° N or S)
A
TROPICAL
7
Q
What are the Three Major Factors of Global Air Circulation?
A
- Uneven heating of the Earth’s Surface by the sun
- Rotation of the Earth on its Axis
- Properties of air, water, and land
8
Q
What are Convection Cells?
A
- Earth’s Air Circulation patterns
9
Q
Six giant convection cells
A
- 3 south equator
- 3 north equator
10
Q
What’s the Rain Shafow Effect?
A
- mountain ranges block much of the rainfall necessary for plant growth.
11
Q
What are Tropical deserts?
A
- hot and dry most of the year DUNE
(Sahara and Namid of Africa)
12
Q
What are Temperate deserts?
A
- daytime temp are high in summer and low in winter
- more precipitation than tropical desert
- sparse vegetation, drought resistant shrubs and cacti, other succulents
(Mojave Desert)
13
Q
What are Cold deserts?
A
- winters and cold
- summers are warm or hot
- precipitation is low
(Gobi Desert)
14
Q
What are Savanna?
A
- one type of tropical grassland
- warm tem year-round and alternating dry and wet seasons
15
Q
What are Temperate grassland?
A
- Short-grass prairies
- Tall-grass prairies
(that old Windows wallpaper)
