Why Biomes Sit Where They Do · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Why biomes sit in bands

Geography · People & Environments · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Around which latitudes do deserts ring the globe?

    • Near the equator
    • Near the poles
    • Near thirty degrees north and south

  2. Where does tropical forest hug the planet?

    • The wet equator
    • The dry poles
    • Thirty degrees south only

  3. Why is air near thirty degrees so dry?

    • Air sinks there after rising at the equator
    • The sun never shines there
    • Oceans refuse to evaporate there

  4. A region is warm and soaked all year. Which biome fits?

    • Desert
    • Rainforest
    • Tundra

  5. A region is hot with very little rain. Which biome fits?

    • Rainforest
    • Tundra
    • Desert

  6. Mountains and ocean currents can override the latitude rule.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. A student says deserts sit at the equator because it is hottest. What is the error?

    • The equator is the coldest place
    • Deserts need frost to form
    • Dry air sinks near thirty degrees while the equator stays wet

  8. A cool wet forest grows on a slope inside a desert latitude. What overrides?

    • Mountains lifting air and cooling the slope
    • Latitude losing all meaning
    • The desert moving away
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_zQLshCSJh8-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Why biomes sit in bands W1-mt_zQLshCSJh8-s1

  1. Near thirty degrees north and south · The dry bands sit in the subtropics.
  2. The wet equator · Rising wet air feeds forest at the equator.
  3. Air sinks there after rising at the equator · Sinking air brings dry skies to those bands.
  4. Rainforest · Warm plus soaked is the rainforest pairing.
  5. Desert · Hot plus dry is the desert pairing.
  6. True · Local features can flip the expected climate.
  7. Dry air sinks near thirty degrees while the equator stays wet · Heat alone misleads; the sinking loop sets the bands.
  8. Mountains lifting air and cooling the slope · Elevation and lifted air rewrite the local climate.
Worksheet · LightMySky