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.
Temperate Forest
Biome Type
Temperature/Precipitation Trends for this Biome:
C
L
I
M
A
T
O
G
R
A
M
Important Biotic/Abiotic Factors for this Biome:
Left y-axis = Bar Graph (precipitation); Right y-axis = Line Graph (temp)
Climatograms
2. For next three biomes, use the information presented in the climatograms to complete the
accompanying information.
(Boreal Forest)
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
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.
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Climatograms
4. Make your own! Using the Data Tables provided, create climatograms to represent that information. 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
24.6 26.2 28.4 30.9 32.9 32.4 30.7 30.1 29.7 28.2 26.1 25.0
Temp. (°C)
Average
4.1
2.2
1.9
3.2
4.4
5.7
8.0
11.3 11.8 30.2 35.4 14.7
Precip.(cm)
Data Table 2: Location – Moshi, Tanzania; Biome – Tropical Savannah
Month
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug
Average
23.2 23.2 22.2 21.2 19.8 18.4 17.9 18.4
Temp. (°C)
Average
3.6
6.1
9.2
40.1 30.2
5.1
5.1
2.5
Precip.(cm)
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Sep
19.8
Oct
21.4
Nov
22.0
Dec
22.4
2.0
3.0
8.1
6.4
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Climatograms
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Data Table 3:
Aden, Aden; Biome - Desert
Month
Jan
Feb
Average
24.6 25.1
Temp. (°C)
Average
.8
0.5
Precip.(cm)
Location –
Mar
26.4
Apr
28.5
May
30.6
Jun
31.9
Jul
31.1
Aug
30.3
Sep
31.1
Oct
28.8
Nov
26.5
Dec
25.1
1.3
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.0
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Nov
-6.1
Dec
-11.1
15.1
14.0
Data Table 4: Location – Seattle, Washington; Biome – Northwestern Coniferous Forest
Month
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct
Average
-18.8 -10.0 -5.4
2.8
10.1 12.2 15.5 13.7
9.8
3.7
Temp. (°C)
Average
14.2
9.7
8.8
5.2
4.6
3.9
2.8
3.0
4.5
8.8
Precip.(cm)
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Temperature/Precipitation
Trends for this Biome:
Climatograms
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
Important Biotic/Abiotic
Factors for this Biome:
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
Climatograms
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:
Climatograms