Which type of biome is likely represented by line P in the graph below? Monthly Temperatures for Four Biomes 30 20 10 Temperature (in °C) -10 -20 -30Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec taiga tundra tropical temperate KEY P Q R S
The correct answer is tropical.
Line P represents a biome that maintains high, relatively stable temperatures throughout the entire year. According to the graph, the temperature stays consistently between 25 °C and 30 °C across all twelve months, showing no significant fluctuations even between traditionally colder or warmer seasons. This pattern is distinctive of a tropical biome.
Tropical biomes are generally found near the equator, where solar radiation is direct and consistent all year. As a result, they experience warm temperatures year-round and do not have pronounced seasonal changes in temperature. Instead, if there is any seasonal variation, it is usually in rainfall rather than temperature. Examples include tropical rainforests, such as the Amazon and Congo Basins, which maintain average monthly temperatures above 24 °C throughout the year.
In contrast, the other biomes listed differ substantially in their thermal profiles. A taiga exhibits long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Its temperature line on the graph would show dramatic changes, with very low temperatures in winter months and a modest rise during summer. A tundra biome is even colder, with limited warming in the summer and harshly low temperatures across most of the year. Temperate biomes, while more moderate, still show significant variation—cooler winters and warmer summers—with a greater overall temperature range than a tropical climate.
Thus, the year-round stability and warmth of line P clearly identify it as representative of a tropical biome. Its profile matches the equatorial climate zone where temperature remains high every month, making it easily distinguishable from the more seasonally variable biomes.
