a large-scale global ecosystem, for example, a tropical rainforest

the spread (which may have a regular pattern) of, for example, a type of vegetation

the average weather conditions (such as rainfall and temperature) recorded over a 30-year period

distance from the Equator north or south. Lines of latitude run east-west on a map, e.g., the Tropic of Cancer

The distribution and characteristics of global biomes

Geography

The factors affecting biome distribution

Biosphere resources

Understanding the regulatory functions of the biosphere

Population and resources

Using GIS to visualise the distribution and characteristics of global biomes

This unit teaches pupils about ecosystems and biomes at different scales. Pupils learn about the factors influencing biome distribution and the physical systems and processes regulating them. Pupils will also learn about the impact of population growth and resource extraction on biomes.

Global biomes

the distribution, storage and movement of water in the environment

the 'living' layer of Earth below the atmosphere

people who have inhabited an area from the earliest times before the arrival of colonists

materials available in the environment (such as water, food and wood) that support our wants and needs

the extraction and trading of materials, such as wood, for profit

economically-valuable material concentrated in the Earth's crust, such as copper and oil

the air above our heads, made up of gases, solids and liquids

benefits gained from the day-to-day functioning of the world's ecosystems that support human life

to control, for example, the flow of water in a pipe or the temperature in a room

the structure, composition and nutrient content of a soil; a measure of soil fertility

the continuous recycling of water in its different states, for example via rainfall and evaporation

where a mainly agricultural society changes and begins to depend more on manufacturing industries

the wealth of individuals or societies, which rises with industrialisation and the creation of a middle class

a rise in the proportion of people living in urban areas

Thomas Malthus (born 1766) took a pessimistic view of the link between population growth and resources

Ester Boserup (born 1910) took an optimistic view of the link between population growth and agriculture

Washing clothes, Myanmar, income $592/month

Washing clothes, India, income $5,792/month

a GIS (geographic information system) is a computer system that captures, analyses and displays geographic data to help understand spatial patterns

a digital map which is available online. It will usually be interactive or can be created or saved by the user online (‘in the cloud’)

the spread of information (data) across an area, creating spatial patterns which geographers attempt to describe, explain and analyse

the selection of some data in a GIS layer to visualise spatial patterns more clearly

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Global biomes

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