Biomes of the Earth Learning Simulation

This 3D simulation lets you take part in an around-the-world scientific expedition researching Earth's biomes. A biome is a group of land ecosystems with similar climates and organisms. It is mostly the climate—temperature and precipitation—in an area that determines its biome. Interact with the 3D globe to see the worldwide distribution of the biomes on our planet.

Click and drag anywhere on the 3D globe to spin and view it from any direction. Select one of the nine biomes to see where they occur on Earth, or show all locations at once to see where biomes occur in relation to each other. Click on the stars to get photographs and detailed climate information, including average temperature and precipitation levels, for cities located within each biome.

As you visit the temperate rain forest, notice that the area receives a lot of rainfall all year long. The temperate rain forest has moderate temperatures, which makes it different from the tropical rain forest which is warm and rainy all year long. Mountainous areas of land do not fall into one of the major biomes. The climate of a mountain changes from its base to its summit. The mountainous area of Bolivia also contains rain forests and tundra.

It is cold enough for most of the soil in the tundra to remain frozen all year, but there is no snow on the ground. Look at the precipitation graph, it shows that the tundra receives no more precipitation than a desert. In Antarctica, one of the coldest places on Earth, the land is covered year-round with thick ice sheets. Notice that, despite all the ice, there is very little precipitation. This 3D simulation allows you to compare average daily temperatures and average daily precipitation levels for each biome.

Deciduous trees, trees that shed their leaves and grow new ones each year, surround you as you walk through the deciduous forest biome. Note that temperatures in this biome vary greatly during the year. The scent of spruce, fir, and other coniferous trees greets you when you reach the boreal forest. Coniferous trees are well adapted to the very cold winters of the boreal forest biome.