Review how differential heating drives the tricellular circulation model and transfers heat from low to higher latitudes, then relate that redistribution to climate.
Outline the role of the atmospheric system in the distribution of biomes.
atmospheric/tri-cellular circulation (including Hadley, Ferrel & polar cells) creates patterns of climate that determine dominant vegetation types;
low pressure due to intense heating/high insolation at the equator causes / rising moist air in the tropics creates high precipitation giving rise to rainforests;
moving polewards (at high altitude), air cools, becomes denser and sinks forming a high-pressure zone / descending/dry air ( 20−30∘ latitude/tropics) creates water-limiting/arid conditions giving rise to deserts;
some of the air continues towards the poles to equalize temperature difference / atmosphere transfers heat from (sub-)tropics to mid-latitudes giving rise to temperate biomes;
descending/dry air (high latitude/polar regions) creates water-limiting conditions in tundra;
water vapour (from mid-latitudes/temperate regions) is transferred to high latitudes giving rise to heavy precipitation/snow in boreal forest;
water vapour is transferred from ocean surfaces overland generating freshwater aquatic systems;
prevailing winds/jet streams (blowing from high to low pressure) bring precipitation to a region, eg temperate rainforest in mountainous region/riverine/water-margin systems;
rain shadow effect of high mountains causes dry winds in the leeward side, resulting in arid or semi-arid biomes (eg Tibetan Plateau, Mongolian Gobi desert and steppes);
atmosphere may be responsible for shifting biomes due to global warming/climate change;