Factors the influence a biomes location

Factors the influence a biomes location

What is a biome?

• Biomes are communities of plants and animals that extend over large areas due to similarities of climate within the area of the biome.

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There are

distinct biomes.

The 5 distinct biomes are

• Forest

• Grassland

• Desert

• Tundra

• Aquatic

Australia's biomes

Forests, Deserts, Grassland, Alpine Tundra and Aquatic

Factors that influence the location of biomes

• Span of latitudes – Australia is 10 S (Cape York) and approx. 43 S (South Cape Tasmania), as a result the areas where latitudes are closer to the equator are wetter and warmer. Whilst higher latitudes (further away from the equator) are cooler and drier.

Multiple Choice

The closer you are to the equator, the ...

• colder and wetter it is

• the warmer and wetter it is

• the colder and drier it is

• the wetter and drier it is

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Australia spans a

range of latitudes

Factors that influence the location of biomes

• Size of continent – Australia is a large continent 8.6 million km², the size of the continent means that areas within Australia are a long way from the ocean which will impact the amount of precipitation that is received to an area which impacts the ability for plants and animals to flourish. 

Multiple Choice

Australia's continent is considered ...

• large

• small

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It results in varying levels of

across the country.

Factors that influence the location of biomes

• Topography - Mountain ranges create barriers that alter wind and precipitation patterns. Mountains and hills force prevailing winds up and over their slopes. As air rises, it also cools. Cooler air is capable of holding less water vapor than warmer air. As air cools, this water vapor is forced to condense, depositing rain or snow on windward slopes. This creates an effect known as a rainshadow on their leeward (protected) sides, where the air contains very little moisture. Most of the world’s great mid-latitude deserts are located in rainshadows. Additionally, land at higher elevations, such as mountains or plateaus, are naturally cooler due to a phenomenon known as the environmental lapse rates, resulting in Alpine Tundras

Multiple Choice

Topography is refers to ...

• the height of a mountain

• how far away from the ocean you are

• the shape of the land

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Australia's mid-latitude deserts are impacted by a

caused by the Great Dividing Range

Factors that influence the location of biomes

• Distance from ocean - The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea. The centre of continents are subject to a large range of temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the centre of the land mass.

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The further you are from the ocean the

the area will be due to precipitation evaporating before getting to the location.

Open Ended

In a PEEL paragraph, provide reasons why Australia has a large range of biomes. Make sure you use examples to support your explanation