h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been taught that there are seven biomes. The ones mentioned and chaparral. Chaparral being dryer than grasslands and characterised by drought resistant shrub.

But then, we were told that the clasification of biomes varies between biologists, ecologists and geographers. I've learnt the ecological definitions (well, most recently anyway), but the geographical excludes chaparral.

It is all very confusing. I wish there was a standard classification so I didn't have to learn them all and struggle to remember which definition was for what subject.

Sadly, the chances of everyone using a standardised system are low, so you'd end up with 27 classifications to remember instead of 20

*looks at his post* Hmm. I'm not normally that pessimistic! Of course, you could develop a new classification system that everyone loves and is universally used, in which case you can start work on similar unified classification systems for architects and structural engineers

I don't think I'd be very good at architecture or structural engineering classifications. I could give a fair description of the materials used in them, but thats about as far as my knowledge goes. You'll have to make your own standardisations for these, apart from any that refer to things like grain size.

As for making my own standard and universaly recognised biome classification, it will be a few years yet. Still, who knows