BIOSPHERE and BIOMES 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS NASA
BIOSPHERE and BIOMES © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS NASA
Biosphere © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS Atmosphere
Biosphere l l The part of the Earth where life is found The parts where there is interaction between the living organisms and their non-living environment. © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Solar radiation © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Climate zones © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Climate and biomes l l Biomes are major (terrestrial) ecological zones within the biosphere The type of ecosystem that emerges in an areas can be predicted based upon the climate. © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Biomes © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Biomes l l Determined by climate Characterised by their vegetation type Arranged broadly by latitude Can also be influenced by oceans, mountain ranges. © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Tropical rainforest © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Tropical rainforest © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Desert © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS © P Billiet
Desert © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Grasslands Savannah Africa © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS Steppe Ukraine
Grasslands © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Temperate forest © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS © P Billiet
Temperate forest © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Boreal forest (taiga) © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Boreal forest (taiga) © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Tundra © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Tundra © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Overview © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
l l l l Nutrient flow Nutrients are recycled in a closed ecosystem The rate of recycling between the different can be shown on Gersmehl diagrams Arrow thickness = flux Rainfall Disc size = reservoir Leaf fall B = Biomass L = Litter L S = Soil B Decomposition Root absorbance S Surface runoff © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS Leaching Weathering
Taiga Key: l L = litter l S = soil l B = Biomass Rainfall Leaf fall B Root absorbance L Decomposition S Surface runoff Leaching © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS Weathering
Desert Key: l L = litter l S = soil l B = Biomass Rainfall B Leaf fall Root absorbance L Decomposition Surface runoff © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS S
Tropical rain forest Key: l L = litter l S = soil l B = Biomass B Rainfall Leaf fall Root absorbance L Decomposition Surface runoff © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS Leaching S Weathering
Nutrient flow and climate © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
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