World Biomes
What is a biome?
A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.
What does the term "solar insolation" measure?
The amount of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time.
How does air temperature generally change as altitude increases?
Temperature decreases (it gets colder).
What are the names of the three major atmospheric circulation cells in each hemisphere?
Hadley Cell, Ferrel Cell, and Polar Cell.
Which factor—altitude or proximity to the coast—explains why a mountain peak in Africa can have snow year-round?
Altitude
Which terrestrial biome has the highest level of biodiversity on Earth?
Tropical Rainforest.
Why do regions near the Equator receive more intense solar energy than the Poles?
Sun rays strike the Equator directly (at a 90° angle), while rays hit the Poles at a slanted angle over a larger surface area.
Approximately how much does temperature drop for every 150 meters gained in elevation?
Approximately 1°C
At which latitude line do rising warm, moist air currents form tropical rainforests?
0° (The Equator / Intertropical Convergence Zone).
Does rising air in an atmospheric cell create high pressure or low pressure at the Earth's surface?
Low pressure (which causes air to cool, condense, and form rain).
Name the cold, treeless biome characterised by permafrost soil.
Tundra.
How does solar insolation influence global temperatures and biome placement?
Higher insolation creates warmer climates suitable for tropical rainforests, while lower insolation creates colder biomes like tundra.
Why can you find ice and snow biomes near the Equator at high mountain peaks?
Answer: High altitude lowers atmospheric pressure and temperature, creating alpine environments despite warm lowlands.
What type of atmospheric pressure system is associated with heavy rainfall and cloud formation?
Low pressure system.
As you travel from the Equator toward the North Pole, in what order would you pass through these three biomes: Tundra, Tropical Rainforest, and Taiga?
Tropical Rainforest > Taiga > Tundra.
Which biome is characterised by grasses rather than trees and experiences low, irregular rainfall?
Grasslands (Savanna/Prairie).
During which season is solar insolation highest in the Southern Hemisphere?
Summer (December to February).
Explain why temperature decreases as you go higher up a mountain, even though you are closer to the sun.
Earth's surface absorbs solar radiation and warms the air from the ground up; as altitude increases, air pressure drops, causing air to expand and cool (lapse rate).
Why are most of the world's major hot deserts located around 30° North and South latitude?
Sinking dry air in the Hadley Cell creates high pressure and suppresses rainfall.
If a city sits on the windward side of a coastal mountain range, what kind of biome is most likely to develop there compared to the leeward side?
Answer: Temperate or tropical rainforest (due to high rainfall), while the leeward side becomes grassland or desert.
Also known as boreal forest, what is the world's largest land biome dominated by coniferous trees?
Taiga.
What causes the seasonal variations in solar insolation experienced across Earth's temperate biomes?
The tilt of Earth's axis ($23.5^\circ$) as it orbits around the Sun.
Why do trees stop growing above the "tree line" on high mountains?
Temperatures are too low and growing seasons are too short for trees to survive.
Which atmospheric cell operates between 30° and 60° latitude, responsible for temperate biome weather systems?
Ferrel Cell.
Why are hot deserts located at 30° latitude generally hotter during the day than tropical rainforests at 0° latitude?
Deserts lack cloud cover and atmospheric moisture to block incoming solar radiation or absorb thermal energy.