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In our site you will discover facts about our planet,
its complex patterns of biomes, plants, and animals, and how climates ultimately determine the biomes of our Earth.
This
web site explores the complex pattern of climates,
biomes, plants and animals that creates the fabric
of Earth's environment.
Here you will discover how
climate and geography determine where a particular
biome exists.
You will explore how plants and
animals interact and depend on each other and their
environment.
Visit
the biomes and investigate what plants and animals
live there.
Find out how they are dependent on each
other.
Discover how the climate of a biome
determines what kind of animals and plants can
exist there.
Hopefully, you will come to realize that even the smallest organism, its life, death, or extinction creates a ripple effect that determines the well being an entire biome and of planet Earth itself.
Earth is the third planet and 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 km.) from the sun. It is estimated to be at least 4.5 billion years old.
The planet rotates once every 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09 seconds. It makes one full revolution around the sun every 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.45 seconds.
Earth has a total surface area of 196,800,00 square miles. Approximately 57,300,00 square miles, or 29% of the total surface area is land. Water covers approximately 139,500,000 square miles, or 71% of the total surface area.
The highest temperatures on Earth have reached 136 ° F (58° C) at Al Asisiyah, Libya. Temperatures of - 128° F (-89° C) have been recorded at Vostok station in Antarctica.
More than 99% of earth's atmosphere is less than 50 miles (80 km.) high. However, particles of the atmosphere are found 1,000 miles (1,600 km.) in space above the planet's surface.
Earth is truly a remarkable planet. It is the only planet in our solar system that has the components necessary to support life as we recognize it. The planet is only a tiny part of the universe, but it is the home of human beings and many other organisms. Animals and plants live almost everywhere on the surface of Earth.
These organisms can live on Earth because it has an atmosphere. The atmosphere moderates day time and night time temperature swings. Radiant energy is filtered by the atmosphere during the day, preventing the surface from overheating. At night the atmosphere prevents most of the radiant heat from escaping back into space, keeping the surface warm.
Most organisms - both plants and animals - must also have water to live. Earth has plenty. Seventyone percent of its surface is covered by water.
Living things also need nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Earth's thin layer of atmosphere provides all of these elements.
The atmosphere also screens out lethal levels of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. The atmosphere, however, could not exist if Earth were not at the exact distance it is from the sun.
This website originally evolved from a biome project in Karl Nelson's 6th grade science class at the West Tisbury School , West Tisbury, Massachusetts.
This site was created to teach students the power of the Internet as a tool for both communication and learning,
and how to use this tool while at the same time express their scientific/environmental knowledge in a fun way.
More information on the many plants and animals found in the different biomes of the world will be added every year as the project grows.
The West Tisbury School is a K-8 school located on the island of Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts.
We are part of the Up-Island School District which includes the towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury.
This site was created and developed by Elisabeth Benders-Hyde. It evolved from a biome project created by Ann and Karl Nelson,
two fabulous 6th grade math and science teachers.
If you would like to know more about our school, please visit us at: http://www.wtisburyschool.org/
On 2019, the website design was redone, and it was updated to the latest technology available.