IB Environmental systems and societies 2.4 Climate and Biomes Key Definitions

Abiotic factors are the non-living physical and chemical elements, such as temperature, sunlight, and soil composition.

A biome is a group of ecosystems that share similar climatic conditions, regardless of their geographic location.

Climate describes the average weather conditions in a region over a long period, typically 30 years or more.

The "warm phase" of the ENSO cycle, characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a natural climatic phenomenon involving periodic fluctuations in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure across the tropical Pacific Ocean.

The "cool phase" of the ENSO cycle, characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific.

Ocean currents are large-scale movements of water driven by winds, temperature, salinity differences, and Earth’s rotation that transport heat across the planet.

The tricellular model of atmospheric circulation explains the global movement of air and how it influences temperature, precipitation, and the distribution of biomes.

Tropical cyclones are rapidly rotating storm systems that develop over warm ocean waters in the tropics.

Upwelling refers to the vertical movement of deep, cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface due to the displacement of surface waters by wind.

Weather refers to the temporary state of the atmosphere in a specific place and time.