Topic Summaries

Distribution and characteristics of large-scale ecosystems

IGCSE > Geography > CIE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Components and characteristics of ecosystems > Distribution and characteristics of large-scale ecosystems
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Tropical storm hazards

Responding to tropical storms

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Water supply

Energy supply

  • Biomes are regions with specific climate conditions (e.g. based on temperature or rainfall). Examples of biomes include:
    • Tropical rainforests: found near the equator (e.g. Amazon, Congo) where it is hot and humid.
    • Deserts: found around 30° north and south of the equator (e.g. Sahara) where it is hot and dry.
    • Tundra: found near the poles (e.g. Arctic) where it is cold and dry.
  • Each biome has unique climates, vegetation, and wildlife adapted to its environment. 
    • Rainforests have dense vegetation, high biodiversity, and are warm and wet all year. 
    • Deserts have sparse vegetation, extreme temperatures, and low rainfall. 
    • Tundra has low-growing plants, cold temperatures, and permafrost.

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