Earth's Biomes

#biome #ecosystem #ngscience
Learn about the characteristics of the Earth major biomes. Head to ngscience.com for a range of related resources for learning in the classroom or at home.

Climate describes the average weather conditions in an area over time. Climate is often described in terms of the amount of precipitation and the average temperature. Climate is different in different regions of the world. Tropical rainforests close to the equator receive high amounts of precipitation and warmth all year round. Other regions may experience different amounts of precipitation and temperatures from season to season. Some regions are cold and dry all year round.

The climate of a region determines the types of organisms that survive there. Scientists classify the Earth’s land surface into biomes. A biome is a region that is characterized by its climate, vegetation and the organisms that can be found there. Organisms in each biome have adaptations that allow them to survive in their biome’s climate.

Generally, Earth’s biomes occur in patterns, depending on distance from the equator. Biomes close to the equator include tropical rainforests and tropical grasslands. Further from the equator are deserts, temperate forests and temperate grasslands. Biomes far from the equator and close to the North Pole include boreal forests, tundra and polar ice.