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The climate of a small area that is influenced by local conditions
Microclimate
The most fertile soils of all biomes are found in temperate
Grasslands
Stream like movements of water at or near the surface of the ocean are called __________.
Surface Currents
contains the greatest number of plants and animals of any biome
Tropical Rainforest
What does latitude measure?
The distance north or south from the equator.
The biome of a caribou.
Tundra
The biome of the scorpion
Tropical Desert
Winds that blow mainly from one direction.
Prevailing Winds
a large region characterized by a specific type of climate & certain types of plant and animal communities
Biome
a horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind & occurs at or near the ocean's surface
Surface Currents
Why is the forest floor of the taiga mostly bare?
Fallen needles from conifers make the soil acidic, which is not good for most plants.
The average weather condition in an area over a long period of time.
Climate
How is chaparral vegetation similar to tropical savanna vegetation?
It has adapted to fire.
Winds that travel across large bodies of water tend to be ______________, while those that travel across land tend to be ______________.
moist; dry
The biome of a giraffe.
Tropical Savanna
Evergreen needle-leaved trees
How does latitude affects the temperature at the poles?
The higher the latitude, the colder the climate.
What may cause a land region to be dry even though it is near the ocean?
Dry prevailing winds
What are the three major types of biomes within the tropical zone?
Tropical Rainforest, Tropical Desert, Tropical Savanna
What are the two main factors in climate?
Temperature & Precipitation
Another name for the northern coniferous forest is the ___________.
Taiga
In the temperate desert, what two factors cause the large change in temperature between day and night?
Low Humidity & Cloudless Skies
The frozen layer of soil that remains beneath thawed soil in the tundra in summer is __________________.
Permafrost
Why do areas near large bodies of water rarely have sudden or extreme temperature changes?
Water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land does.
When warm air rises, it _______________. This causes it to lose the ability to hold water, creating ____________________.
cools; precipitation