Temperate Regions Game Quiz Online

This page features a Temperate regions game quiz online. Learn about the aspects that make these regions unique from climate, weather, vegetation, seasons, location in latitudes and more. This science game is for 3rd to 7th grades.

 

Climate of Temperate Regions

The climate of temperate regions is divided into two types - Mediterranean and continental. The Mediterranean climate is generally warmer and drier and is characteristic of cities such as Rome, Cape Town, Santiago and Adelaide. The northern part of the temperate zone has cold and severe winters and is called the HemiBoreal climate. Cities like Chicago and Beijing have hot summers and cold winters. Let’s learn more about other aspects of temperate regions.

Climate

The climate in temperate regions is highly variable, with periods of high and low temperatures. Trees growing in these regions must be adapted to freezing temperatures. In some regions, they may freeze from late fall to early spring. At higher elevations and on the continent, frost periods are shorter. In temperate regions, trees have two distinct growing seasons: Fall and summer. Tree growth in temperate regions is affected by the presence of snow.

Soil types in temperate regions range from alfisols in the highlands to ultisols in the south and east. Entisols form from alluvium flowing along rivers. Spodosols and mollisols form in areas of high elevation and colder latitudes. Typical soils in warm temperate climates consist of a mixture of both types.

The northern temperate zone consists of the area between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer. The southern temperate zone is between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle. Temperatures in these regions vary between six and 10 degrees Celsius, with only a few degrees variation in the coastal regions. The coastal region in southwestern New Zealand shows a similar pattern. Summer temperatures average twenty degrees Celsius and fall temperatures vary between five and ten degrees. Rainfall in these regions can be as high as 850 centimeters.

In temperate zones, forests generally develop where there is sufficient precipitation to maintain soil moisture. However, extended periods of drought can directly affect tree species and increase the risk of fire. Increases in wildfire activity are predicted under a climate warming scenario. Biogeographic shifts may also undermine the resilience of fire-prone forests around the world. So what does the future hold for temperate regions? There is no single, perfect climate in the world, but there are many variables that must be considered.

Biota

Temperate forests cover 100 million hectares of land around the world. These are the most productive forest types with an average temperature between 0 degrees Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius in the coldest month of the year. The major tree species found in these temperate regions include broadleaf evergreens and deciduous trees. They are further classified according to temperature and humidity. There have been many attempts to classify the forest regions of the world, but no final classification has been established.

Despite the name, the biosphere is asymmetrically distributed across the globe. While more land area is found north of the equator, the temperate forests of the southern hemisphere do not have the large extent found in the northern hemisphere. These forests are limited to narrow strips along western South America, southeastern Australia, northern New Zealand, and much of Tasmania. These areas are affected by climatic factors because they are characterized by a high ratio of ocean to land mass.

The temperate climate zone has four distinct seasons. In winter, small animals store their food for the winter in holes in the ground or in hollow tree trunks. In summer, larger mammals eat as much as they can to gain enough weight for hibernation. Birds migrate from these forests to warmer regions. They are not the only animals in temperate regions that migrate. The tropics, the Northern Hemisphere, and the American Southwest have their own unique biotopes.

The Sonoran Desert and the subarctic region are characterized by thorn scrub and grasslands that transition to tropical deciduous forest in the south. These two biomes evolved from their ancestors in the tropical biomes, and their examples are noted in the species books. More information about these biomes can be found on the Earth Observatory Mission website. It contains detailed descriptions of each biome and their climate statistics.

Climate variability

Climate is the long-term average of weather conditions, and the variations in that climate occur across different timescales. In temperate regions, the biggest contributor to the year-to-year variability is El Niño–Southern Oscillation ENSO, which affects the ocean's temperature. Changes in climate are also the result of large increases in greenhouse gases, which are responsible for a global warming trend. However, while increasing air temperatures are a clear indication of climate change, the trend in rainfall is not as obvious and may be due to larger natural variability.

While this natural variability is largely predictable, it does not explain the occurrence of extreme climate events. Instead, the short-term variations in temperature are attributed to other factors, including the changing solar activity. The South American Oscillation, for example, explains a portion of the variations in temperature in the southern hemisphere.

Climate variability affects both the groundwater and the surface water. The increased frequency of drought and flooding in temperate regions is especially relevant to the discussion of the topic. These climatic extremes will affect the instantaneous groundwater flow system. It will also alter the mechanism of interactions between surface water and groundwater. For example, more frequent droughts are a potential threat to temperate forests. It is critical to understand the impact of climate variability on land-based hydropower systems.

The influence of climate variation on human society has long been acknowledged. Understanding this variation is vital for mitigation and adaptation efforts. Recent observational studies have improved our knowledge of climate variability. The TOGA program, for instance, clarified the underlying mechanisms of El Nino/Southern Oscillation and extended the capabilities of climate prediction. This has led to a new era of climate science. You can also watch for it and get involved!

Plants

While most of the world's land areas fall within the tropical biome, there are also some that more closely resemble temperate regions. The temperate biomes are characterized by moderate seasonal variations that allow for the occurrence of many different species of plants and animals. These biomes include much of the continental United States and large portions of Asia. They consist of a variety of landscapes, including temperate forests, grasslands, and shrublands. Although tropical regions are home to numerous species unique to these areas, many of the world's tropical alpine biomes are located within temperate zones.

The diversity of plant species in the temperate zones varies widely, but there are some common features. For example, most tropical alpine species are found only in these regions, and most Mt. Kinabalu species occur elsewhere. In contrast, the alpine species of the Andes transition into other habitat types. As a result, the western Peruvian Andes are one of the most diverse regions for alpine plants and animals.

The temperate climate determines the types of vegetation that grow there. Climate is an important factor in soil development, and plants influence these processes in different ways. Soils and climate are a key component in determining the types of vegetation and animals that thrive in these regions.

Temperate areas also have different seasons. Coastal areas are tempered by the ocean and can support tropical plants and vegetation. True winters are rare, but frost can reduce pest numbers and affect certain vegetables. Temperate zones are somewhat less predictable than tropical regions, but rainfall is reliable year-round. In true winter, plants go dormant. And because temperate climates are largely stable, some differences can affect the quality of your garden crops.

Animals

The temperate zone of the world is found between the Arctic Circle and Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of Capricorn and Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere. The animals and plants in this region differ in their seasonal adaptations to the cold, and many migrate to warmer climes during winter. Others have adapted to survive the cold by developing thick fur and insulating fat. Some even hibernate in a sleep-like state.

Temperate forests are home to many different animals, most of which are nocturnal. The species found in temperate forests include deer, woodpeckers, and insects. Deer graze on the understory of trees and ants feed on the insects that live in these trees. Insects such as butterflies and termites can also be found in temperate  ecosystems. Black bears are the only large predators of these species.

The temperate regions in the world are characterized by climates that are milder than those in the northern hemisphere. Tropical climates are generally hotter than temperate ones, which may make them more tolerant to diseases and pests. Temperate forests have moderate temperatures and are therefore home to many species of birds, insects, and reptiles. Some of these species are migratory, while others nest in the forests of other regions.

Plants found in the temperate forest region include many endemic species. There are three main levels to temperate forests: forest floor plants, shrubs, and hardwood trees. In the northern temperate zone, a lot of conifers and pines are found. The temperate zone extends into the taiga and includes the northern continental polar regions. A few tropical species are also found in the temperate zone.