Earth Science: Climate Zones and Biomes
Exploring how climate shapes ecosystems around the world
Earth Science: Climate Zones and Biomes
Exploring how climate shapes ecosystems around the world
Earth Science - Grade 6-8
- 1
Define climate zone and biome. Explain how the two ideas are related but not exactly the same.
Climate describes weather patterns over a long time, while a biome includes organisms.
A climate zone is a region with similar long-term temperature and precipitation patterns. A biome is a large ecosystem with similar climate, plants, and animals. Climate helps determine which biome can exist in a region, but a biome also includes living things and their adaptations. - 2
The tropical climate zone is found near the equator. Describe two climate conditions that are common there and name one biome often found in this zone.
Tropical climate zones are usually warm all year and often receive a lot of rainfall. A tropical rainforest is one biome commonly found in this zone. - 3
A region has very cold winters, short cool summers, and low plant growth. The ground may stay frozen for much of the year. Identify the most likely biome and explain your reasoning.
Think about a biome where trees have trouble growing because it is too cold.
The most likely biome is tundra. Tundra has very cold temperatures, short growing seasons, limited plant growth, and often has frozen ground called permafrost. - 4
Compare a desert biome and a tropical rainforest biome in terms of precipitation and biodiversity.
A desert receives very little precipitation and usually has fewer species adapted to dry conditions. A tropical rainforest receives heavy precipitation and usually has very high biodiversity because warm, wet conditions support many living things. - 5
Use the climate graph described here: Average monthly temperatures stay between 24°C and 28°C all year. Rainfall is high every month, often above 150 mm. Which biome does this climate graph most likely represent? Explain.
Look for a biome with warmth and rain throughout the year.
This climate graph most likely represents a tropical rainforest. The temperatures are warm all year, and the rainfall is high in every month, which matches rainforest conditions. - 6
Why are temperate grasslands often good areas for farming, even though they may not have many trees?
Think about how dead plant material can improve soil.
Temperate grasslands often have fertile soil because grasses grow, die, and add organic matter to the ground. They may not have many trees because rainfall is often not high enough to support forests, but the soil can still be good for crops. - 7
Explain how latitude affects climate. Include why areas near the equator are usually warmer than areas near the poles.
Latitude affects how much direct sunlight a place receives. Areas near the equator are warmer because sunlight strikes them more directly throughout the year. Areas near the poles are colder because sunlight arrives at a lower angle and spreads over a larger area. - 8
A mountain range has a wet forest on one side and a dry shrubland or desert on the other side. What Earth science process can explain this pattern?
Think about what happens to moist air as it rises and cools.
The rain shadow effect can explain this pattern. Moist air rises over the mountain, cools, and drops precipitation on the windward side. The air then moves down the other side drier, creating a dry leeward side. - 9
List one plant adaptation and one animal adaptation that help organisms survive in a desert biome.
One plant adaptation is a thick waxy coating that reduces water loss. One animal adaptation is being active at night when temperatures are cooler, which helps the animal conserve water and avoid extreme heat. - 10
Deciduous forests have trees that lose their leaves in the fall. How is this leaf loss an adaptation to seasonal climate changes?
Leaves require water and energy to maintain.
Leaf loss helps deciduous trees conserve water and energy during cold seasons when sunlight is lower and water may be frozen. Dropping leaves also reduces damage from freezing temperatures and winter storms. - 11
A student says, "All hot places are deserts." Explain why this statement is incorrect using climate and biome evidence.
The statement is incorrect because deserts are defined mainly by very low precipitation, not just high temperature. Some hot places, such as tropical rainforests, receive heavy rainfall and support dense plant growth. - 12
Study the biome descriptions: Biome A has tall grasses, scattered trees, warm temperatures, and wet and dry seasons. Biome B has many evergreen needleleaf trees, long cold winters, and short summers. Identify each biome.
Savannas are tropical grasslands, while taiga forests are cold conifer forests.
Biome A is a savanna because it has grasses, scattered trees, warm temperatures, and wet and dry seasons. Biome B is a taiga or boreal forest because it has evergreen needleleaf trees, long cold winters, and short summers. - 13
How can ocean currents influence the climate of nearby land areas?
Ocean currents can move warm or cold water around the planet. Warm currents can make nearby coastal areas warmer and wetter, while cold currents can make nearby coastal areas cooler and sometimes drier. - 14
Climate change can shift climate zones over time. Describe one possible effect this could have on a biome and the organisms living there.
Think about what happens when temperature or precipitation changes faster than organisms can adapt.
Climate change can make a biome warmer, drier, wetter, or more seasonal than before. Some species may move to new areas, adapt, or decline if they cannot survive the new conditions. For example, a forest may become more like grassland if rainfall decreases. - 15
A region receives moderate precipitation throughout the year and has warm summers, cool winters, and forests with broadleaf trees. Which biome is most likely found there? Explain your answer.
The region most likely has a temperate deciduous forest. This biome has moderate precipitation, seasonal temperature changes, and broadleaf trees that often lose their leaves during colder months.