temperate forest biome type temperature/precipitation ... · lawrence, kansas and nashville,...

Climatograms

Land Biomes and Climatograms Integrated Science 2 Name: Per. Background Information:

Across the face of the earth there are great differences in climate. The differing climates are a result of a combination of climate controls such as elevation, latitude, proximity to water, winds, topography and vegetation. While climates differ widely across the globe, climate trends in specific regions remain relatively stable over time, unless influenced by natural or man-made climate changes. Climate patterns in certain geographical locations across the globe can be measured and represented using climatograms. A climatogram is a graph of monthly measurements of temperature and precipitation for a given area during a year. Through billions of years, the varying climates across the globe have resulted in the evolution of diverse ecosystems that harbor distinct groups of living (biotic) plants, animals and microorganisms. Areas that are similar in climate and other physical factors develop similar types of communities of organisms. These areas are called biomes. The major types of land biomes include the Tropical Rain Forest, Tropical Dry Forest, Tropical Savanna, Desert, Temperate Grassland, Temperate Woodland and Shrubland, Temperate Forest, Northwestern Coniferous Forest, Boreal Forest, and Tundra. This investigation allows you to study the worldwide relationships between climates and biomes. Procedures:

1. Observe the graph/climatogram shown here. Use the information presented in the climatogram about temperature and precipitation and pages 220-224 from your text to complete the boxes.

C L I M A T O G R A M

Biome Type

Temperature/Precipitation Trends for this Biome:

Left y-axis = Bar Graph (precipitation); Right y-axis = Line Graph (temp)

Temperate Forest

Important Biotic/Abiotic Factors for this Biome:

Climatograms

2. For next three biomes, use the information presented in the climatograms to complete the accompanying information.

(Boreal Forest)







Climatograms

3. For the next two climatograms, summarize the precipitation and temperature information, then use that information and pages 220-224 to predict the biome. Write the biome name above the climatogram Note that climatograms can switch the precipitation/temperature axes and that measurements can be in cm or mm and degrees C or F.





Climatograms

4. Make your own! Using the Data Tables provided, create climatograms to represent that infor-mation. For each, summarize temperature and precipitation trends and biotic and abiotic factors.

Data Table 1: Location – Chennai, India: Biome – Tropical Dry Forest Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average Temp. (°C)

24.6 26.2 28.4 30.9 32.9 32.4 30.7 30.1 29.7 28.2 26.1 25.0

Average Precip.(cm)

4.1 2.2 1.9 3.2 4.4 5.7 8.0 11.3 11.8 30.2 35.4 14.7

Data Table 2: Location – Moshi, Tanzania; Biome – Tropical Savannah

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average

Temp. (°C) 23.2 23.2 22.2 21.2 19.8 18.4 17.9 18.4 19.8 21.4 22.0 22.4

Average Precip.(cm)

3.6 6.1 9.2 40.1 30.2 5.1 5.1 2.5 2.0 3.0 8.1 6.4





Climatograms

Data Table 3: Location – Aden, Aden; Biome - Desert Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average Temp. (°C)

24.6 25.1 26.4 28.5 30.6 31.9 31.1 30.3 31.1 28.8 26.5 25.1

Average Precip.(cm)

.8 0.5 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Data Table 4: Location – Seattle, Washington; Biome – Northwestern Coniferous Forest

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average

Temp. (°C) -18.8 -10.0 -5.4 2.8 10.1 12.2 15.5 13.7 9.8 3.7 -6.1 -11.1

Average Precip.(cm)

14.2 9.7 8.8 5.2 4.6 3.9 2.8 3.0 4.5 8.8 15.1 14.0





Climatograms

Analysis and Conclusion Questions Using information presented in this activity and pages 218-225 in your text, complete the questions below. 1. Describe the relationship between climate, climatograms and biomes. In your description, explain how a climatogram can be used to predict the biome present in a particular area. 2. Using the map on page 219 and the biome descriptions, what biome do you think San Francisco is in? Why did you decide this? 3. During the thirty-year period used for the figures in the San Francisco climatogram there were four drought periods. How would this effect the appearance of the climatogram? Review your 10 biomes/climatograms: 1. How are the Tundra and Desert similar? Different? a. Similar b. Different 2. How are the Tropical Rain and Tropical Dry Forests similar? Different? a. Similar b. Different- 3. Lawrence, Kansas and Nashville, Tennessee occupy similar latitudes. Why is one found in grassland and the other in a forest biome (think LETWAV)? 4. Which biome has the: a. Most rainfall: b. Least rainfall: c. The highest average temperature: d. The lowest average temperature: e. Most consistent year round temperature: f. Most variable year round temperature:

temperate forest biome type temperature/precipitation ... · lawrence, kansas and nashville,...

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