Chapter 4: Global Climates and Biomes
Vocabulary Terms:
Biomes
Climate
Troposphere
Hadley, polar
and Ferrel
Cells
Lentic
Lotic
Stratosphere
Coriolis Effect
Albedo
Gyres
Saturation
point
Adiabatic
cooling
Adiabatic
heating
Upwelling
Thermohaline
circulation
ENSO
Rain
Shadow
Savanna
phytoplankton
Intertidal Zone
climatogram
Boreal
Forest
Temperate
Rainforest
Temperate
seasonal
forest
Chaparral
Desert
Tundra
River zones
Swamp
Coral Reefs
Coral bleaching
Permafrost
Marsh
Photic zone
Littoral zone
Bog
Aphotic zone
Limnetic zone
Prairie Potholes
Jet Stream
Profundal
zone
Benthic zone
Salt Marshes
Wet Arctic Tundra
Mangrove
swamps
Weather
Temperate
Grassland
Tropical
Rainforest
Questions:
1. Identify the layers of the atmosphere. Differentiate between the troposphere and the
stratosphere.
2. What is albedo and how does it influence the reflection and absorption of the sun’s energy?
3. Explain the term “saturation point.” What happens when the temperature drops below
saturation point?
4. Compare adiabatic cooling and heating. Use these terms to discuss the rain shadow effect.
5. Use the density of air to explain the difference in shape between a warm front and a cold front.
6. Compare the characteristics of high and low pressure systems. Explain how a low pressure
system forms at the equator and drives air movement within a Hadley cell.
7. Explain what determines the direction of the global trade winds.
8. How does the location of the jet stream affect weather?
9. What is the reason for the seasons?
10. What factors affect the movement of ocean currents?
11. What is the thermohaline circulation and why is it important?
12. Explain what events lead to an ENSO and a La Nina. What are the problems and effects caused
by El Nino and La Nina?
13. For each of the biomes, locate major global areas where the biome can be found. Discuss the
plant and animal life in each biome.
14. Identify each of the 4 zones of a lake and provide the information about the DO, nutrient levels,
and sunlight in each zone.
15. Explain lake turnover.
16. Identify the three zones of a river and discuss the DO, nutrient levels and other characteristics
indicative of each zone.
17. Identify and describe the different types of inland wetlands.
18. What is a mangrove forest?
19. Discuss the ecosystem services provided by wetlands. How have humans impacted wetlands?
What are we doing to protect the wetlands?
20. How is salinity affected daily and seasonally in an estuary?
21. Identify the two organisms that make up coral. Why is a coral reef an important ecosystem?
What conditions do coral reefs need to survive? How have humans impacted coral reefs?
22. Compare inland and coastal wetlands. How they are similar, how are they different?
23. Identify the zones of the ocean, describing the characteristics of each zone.