Biomes Notes PDF

What is a biome? Biomes are places on earth that have different defining features that influence their unique environments, ecosystems and other characteristics. What are some different types of biomes? Desert/Arid Savannah Polar/Arctic Mountain/alpine Marine/Ocean Coastal...

What is a biome? Biomes are places on earth that have different defining features that influence their unique environments, ecosystems and other characteristics. What are some different types of biomes? Desert/Arid Savannah Polar/Arctic Mountain/alpine Marine/Ocean Coastal Rainforest/Jungle → Forest Riverine Wetlands What features differ between biomes? Climatic → Precipitation → Temperature → Variance/range (seasons, etc) Water → Distribute → Salt/freshwater → flows/patterns Altitude/elevation Habitat → Species → flora/fauna → ecosystem Questions What are the world’s major ecosystems referred to as? The earth’s major ecosystems are often referred to as biomes. The concept of biomes is an attempt to describe on a global scale how similar climates in different places support similar vegetation types. What is a biome? A biome is a large ecosystem made up of specific vegetation types and specific wildlife. How are biomes classified? Biomes are classified according to the characteristic vegetation within them. What are the two most significant factors which influence terrestrial biomes? Temperature and precipitation are the two most significant factors affecting the location and distribution of terrestrial biomes Explain why biomes are important to humans Life can only exist where there is moisture, sunlight and nutrients. Organisms (including humans) depend on each other for survival. Therefore the sustainability of biomes is essential to human survival and wellbeing What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is a community of organisms that interact with each other and their non- living environment. What are the two types of ecosystems Ecosystems can be divided into 2 groups – Aquatic (those associated with water) and terrestrial (those associated with land). Ecosystems exist on a local scale whereas Biomes occur on a global scale. Factors that influence Biomes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19GMpy8AwZJbsQxmRjLYZhQMBOTsDosvO6Ybe F_DgHf0/edit Factors that influence the formation of biomes Biotic & Abiotic factors Every environment is made up of biotic and abiotic factors which interact with one another. Biotic factors are the living parts of the ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and bacteria. Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of the environment, such as air, minerals, temperature, and sunlight. Organisms require both biotic and abiotic factors to survive. Temperature & precipitation Temperature and precipitation (rainfall) are very important abiotic factors that influence the characteristics and distribution of biomes. Differences in temperature or precipitation determine various aspects of the biomes, like plants. Biomes with low precipitation and extreme temperatures cause short growing seasons and poor soil, and as a result there are fewer plant and animal species found there. Examples of biomes with extreme climates include polar and desert biomes, few animals and plants can survive in these climates. Latitude Temperature range and precipitation amounts are influenced by latitude, the positioning of the biome in terms of its location from the equator. Temperature is influenced by latitude because of the angle of the earth from the sun. For example, biomes located in the high latitudes, farthest from the Equator like polar and tundra receive the least amount of sunlight and have lower temperatures. Biomes located at middle latitudes between the poles and the Equator, like temperate deciduous forest and temperate grasslands receive more sunlight and have moderate temperatures. At the low latitudes of the Tropics the sun's rays strike the Earth most directly, as a result, the biomes located there receive more sunlight and have higher temperatures, like tropical rain forest and tropical grassland. Elevation Elevation is the height of land above sea level and this has a very important impact on biomes. The change occurs because the atmosphere becomes thinner at higher elevations, and heat is less retained when this occurs. Elevation affects precipitation, because when clouds filled with moisture rise and cool, then release rain or snow. In the following pictures we can see how the biomes change as the elevation increases. Questions 1. Define what biotic and abiotic factors are and provide an example of each  Biotic factors are the living parts of the ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and bacteria. Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of the environment, such as air, minerals, temperature, and sunlight. 2. How does climate influence the plants and animals found in a biome Biomes with low precipitation and extreme temperatures cause short growing seasons and poor soil, and as a result there are fewer plant and animal species found there. Examples of biomes with extreme climates include polar and desert biomes, few animals and plants can survive in these climates. 3. How does latitude affect temperature levels in a biome? Temperature is influenced by latitude because of the angle of the earth from the sun. For example, biomes located in the high latitudes, farthest from the Equator like polar and tundra receive the least amount of sunlight and have lower temperatures. 4. At which latitudes is the desert biome most commonly found? The desert biome is most commonly found around the line of the Tropic of Cancer. 5. At which important line of latitude are tropical rainforests found? The important line of latitude of the tropical rainforests are found around the equator. 6. There is lots of vegetation at high altitudes. True or false? False. 7. What type of vegetation is found at lower elevations? The type of vegetation found at lower elevations is temperate. Different biomes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fb8143ndo8 Tropical rainforest, https://app.luminpdf.com/viewer/67183bec245ce4d65d7d4f02?credentials-id=49adc a4d-9c9d-46bb-aeaf-f66d9bd9629d desert Ocean Mountain Plains savannah Biosphere: The biosphere encompasses all living things (including animals and plants), including their waste and dead remains. An ecosystem is a community of organisms that interact with each other and their non- living environment. Ecosystems can be divided into 2 groups – Aquatic (those associated with water) and terrestrial (those associated with land). Ecosystems exist on a local scale whereas Biomes occur on a global scale. Migration and Immigration: Migration -the movement of people Immigration- moving to another country While most people are free to migrate, there are also many forced migrants Millions of people are forced to cross international borders to escape persecution or to flee a natural disaster. These people are called refugees Different factors: Different types of push and pull factors: Social- war Economic- job opportunities Resources- lack of water Push factors: something that makes people want to leave a place or escape from a particular situation War Lack of food Persecution Lack of resources and services Pull factors: a motivating cause that attracts a person to migrate to another region or country More jobs/employment opportunities More income Better living conditions Better climate Better education Median age: the average age Maps/charts: Chloropleth maps: show the geographic distribution of different species. Synoptic charts: the scientific term for a weather map. Synoptic charts provide information on the distribution, movement and patterns of air pressure, rainfall, wind and temperature. Cold front- Represented by blue lines with triangles. They occur when cold air pushes into a region of warmer air, often leading to sudden weather changes like thunderstorms. Warm front-Depicted by red lines with semicircles. They form when warm air moves over cold air, typically resulting in gradual weather changes and prolonged precipitation.  Stationary front-Shown as alternating red and blue lines. These occur when two air masses meet but neither advances, leading to extended periods of cloudy and rainy weather. Occluded front-Illustrated by purple lines with alternating triangles and semicircles. They happen when a cold front overtakes a warm front, often resulting in complex weather patterns. Isobars: Lines indicating equal atmospheric pressure. Closely spaced isobars signify strong winds, while widely spaced ones indicate lighter winds. Latitude: the distance north or south of the equator Longitude: the distance west or east of the Greenwich meridian Mega cities: Mega cities: A continuous urban area of 10 million people People move from rural areas to megacities Lots of opportunities Sustainable cities: Sustainable energy e.g solar and local power Urban growing Net zero-cutting carbon emissions to a small amount of residual emissions that can be absorbed and durably stored by nature and other carbon dioxide removal measures, leaving zero in the atmosphere. Slums: Densely populated area of substandard housing, usually in a city, characterised by unsanitary conditions and social disorganisation Urban: Urban areas are places of high populations and high density, characterised by their built-up infrastructure. Rural: low population and density whilst maintaining a lack of large infrastructure. Suburban: lower density areas that separate residential and commercial areas from one another. Population pyramids: Expansive- depict populations that have a larger percentage of people in younger age groups. Constrictive- characterised by their beehive-like shape which is bulged in the middle and tapers towards younger and older age groups. Stationary- those that show a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. Population Density:The amount of people living in an area Population Distribution: How spread out people are Aspect and Relief: local relief: Local relief is the variation in elevation or height over a relatively small, defined area. It is determined by working out the difference in height between the highest and lowest points in the area. Formula: Highest point – Lowest point = Local relief. Aspect of a slope: Aspect is the direction a slope faces e.g. Northerly, Southerly, Westerly, south-westerly e.c.t Determining aspect involves using the contour lines of the map. contour interval: The distance between the contour lines  Questions 1. What is the local relief between Point B and D? 2. What is the local relief between Point C and D? 3. What is the local relief between Point A and B? 4. What is the contour interval on the map? 5. What is the aspect of the slope at Point D? 6. What is the aspect of the slope at Point C? YEAR 9 GEOGRAPHY SKILLS SUMMARY TASK: Each lesson we cover a new Geography Skill you need to make notes here on how to complete the skill. Then you will get worksheets testing whether you can do them. SKILL: AREA REFERENCE NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S  1. Find the square of the feature 2. Go to the bottom left corner of the square 3. Write the x axis first (2 digits) 4. Write the y axis second (2 digits) SKILL: GRID REFERENCE NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S 1. Find the dot point of the feature (centre of feature) 2. Write the area reference in positions 1, 2 and 4, 5 3. Write the tenths as digits 3 and 6 SKILL: Contours NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S Contour lines: Show the elevation (height) SKILL: DIRECTION & BEARINGS NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S  1. Underline the word between the locations, to (first) or from (second) 2. Highlight the location to start with 3. Refer to the compass and write down the direction of the arrow (Bearings is angle) SKILL: SCALE & DISTANCE NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S Four types of scales: Linear: - Linear - Bar - Ratio - Written Bar: 1. Locate the locations in the question and read the scale 2. Measure the distance between locations on the topographic map given (with ruler) 3. Convert this measurement to the smallest scale possible. Ratio: Tips about ratio scale: - Always cm - AKA representative fraction - 1 : 100,000 = 1 cm on map = 1km real life Written: SKILL POPULATION PYRAMIDS/PROFILES NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S What do the right/Pink bars show? Females What do the left/blue bars show? Males What is displayed on the Y-Axis? Population (%, mil) What is displayed on the X-Axis? Ages (up by 5) To interpret a population pyramid I can identify development through three types: Expansive: Population of a country is rapidly growing and is shaped like a pyramid or triangle, expansive population pyramids tend to have a high birth rate and low life expectancy. (developing country) Constrictive: Population is shrinking, looks like a beehive and has less children being born than adults with a high life expectancy and low fertility rate. (developed country) Stationary: Population is stable (not growing but not shrinking), has high life expectancy and a stable fertility rate and enough children being born or migrants moving to the country to replace those who die. (middle developed or developed countries) SKILL: SYNOPTIC CHARTS NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S Synoptic charts = Weather maps Show air pressure, rain, wind speed and direction. Isobars: Are lines joining places of equal air pressure, measured in hPa, in multiples of 2hPa or 4hPa. Numbers decreasing to low, numbers increasing to high. Lines closer = windy, rainy Lines far apart = sunny, little to no wind Isobars: High and Low Pressure Systems: Readings shown in the centre of the cell. Low (L): Lines close together - Air is unstable creating wind, cloud cover and a high chance of rainfall. Warm Front (WF): High (H): Lines far apart - Air is stable creating little to no wind, little to no cloud cover and a low chance of rain. Cold Front (CF): Two types of weather features: Warm Front (WM): Represented by ovals, usually red. Troughs: Cold front (CF): Represented by triangles, usually blue. Troughs: Show torrential rain, lots of rain. SKILL: RELIEF NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S Local Relief: Difference in elevation Formula: Highest Point - Lowest Point Peaks (triangle) on topographic map indicate the highest point, to calculate whether the intervals go up or down. SKILL: ASPECT NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S Aspect: Direction of a slope (what way a ball would roll down) 1. Determine which way is down hill (look at peaks or contour indexes) 2. Draw a perpendicular line through the point (check your line is perpendicular by seeing if it makes a right angle) 3. Write the direction your line is pointing to. SKILL: LATITUDE & LONGITUDE NOTES ON HOW TO DO IT IMAGE/S 1. Record latitude - horizontal lines, N/S, labelled __ degrees N/S - begins with 0 degrees in the centre - goes up by 10 degrees - equator 2. Record longitude - vertical lines, W/E, labelled __ degrees W/E - begins with 0 degrees in the centre, - goes up by 10 degrees - prime meridian