26 June - 2 July

ask – same format for any of the ecosystems. Say where they are generally, then add some continent/parts of continent or country specifics and then an exception if there is one.

Generally the tropical rainforest is located close to the Equator.

Specifically in the continents of South America, Africa and South-East Asia. In South America tropical rainforest is located in the North East, mainly in Brazil.

An exception is that there is some tropical rainforest a bit further north in Asia, close to China.

Challenge

I think the tropical rainforest is located close to the equator because this is where there is band of low pressure. The low pressure is there because this is where the suns rays are most concentrated and it warms up the land. The land then warms the air above it and this means the air becomes less dense. The air rises and cools as it ascends into the atmosphere, eventually condensing to form water droplets and then clouds and raining. It is also so warm here because there is less atmosphere for the Suns rays to travel through, resulting in less reflection and more heat getting through to warm the area.

Desert

Generally – between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (by the equator is not enough as this is where the rainforests are)

Specifically – northern Africa, West coast of S. America, central Australia, Central Asia

Exception – west coast of America (just north of the Tropic of Cancer)

I think the desert is located between the Tropics because this is where there is a band of high pressure where the Hadley and Ferrell cells meet. This means that the air does not rise and therefore very little rainfall occurs, resulting in dry/arid conditions of a desert. 

Tundra

• Generally – northern hemisphere/north/Arctic circle (map doesn’t show, but it would also be in the south in Antarctica)

• Specifically – Northern Canada, Northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland

• Exception – none

I think the tundra ecosystem is located at a high latitude in the north because this is where the Earth is coldest. Tundra is cold and dry. It is so cold here because the Suns rays have to pass through more atmosphere to reach the land and there is more reflection of the radiation back into space. There is also lots of snow here and this is a very reflective land surface and this means even more heat is reflected off and back to space. It is also very dry here because it is at a high pressure band, which means air is not rising and clouds do not form.

Interdependence

• Everything is connected

• Everything has a role to play to keep the ecosystem going