Biomes and Climate

1. What is climate? How does it differ from weather?

Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how
the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time. When we talk about climate change,
we talk about changes in long-term averages of daily weather.

2. What is a rain shadow?

A rain shadow is a patch of land that has been forced to become a desert because mountain ranges
blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather. On one side of the mountain, wet weather systems drop
rain and snow.

3. What is a growing season? How does climate influence plant growth?

The growing season is the period during which the weather conditions are conducive to plant
growth. The length of the growing season is limited by different factors, such as air temperature,
frost days, rainfall, or daylight hours.

4. Describe the relationship between climate and biodiversity.

While climate change can drive species loss and decrease biodiversity, it's important to remember
that biodiversity can also help to mitigate climate change. For example, grassland soils sequester
more carbon in areas with high plant diversity than areas with low plant diversity.

5. Compare the data for Seattle and Denver in Table below. Seattle is farther north than Denver.
Why is Seattle warmer?

Because Denver is at a higher altitude, it is cooler. Land near the ocean, like Seattle, may have cooler
summers and warmer winters than land farther inland, like Denver. This is because water gains and
loses heat more slowly than does land, and the water temperature influences the temperature on
the coast.