Ch.3 Terms Flashcards
The day and nights are equal in length
Equinox
When the Tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capicorn mark the points farthest north and south that the sun’ rays shine directly overhead at noon
Solstice
The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time
Weather
The term for weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time
Climate
Falling water droplets in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Precipitation
The land on the leeward side of hills or mountains that gets little rain from the descending dry air
Rain shadow
Storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters
Hurricane
A tropical storm, like a hurricane, that occurs in the western pacific
Typhoon
A powerful funnel-shaped column of spiraling air
Tornado
A heavy snow storm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour and reduced viability
Blizzard
A long period of time without rain or with very minimal rainfall
Drought
The transfer of heat in the atmosphere by upward motion of the air
Convection
The layer of gases released by the burning of coal and oil traps some solar energy, causing higher temperatures in the same way a greenhouse traps solar energy
Greenhouse effect
The flat, treeless lands farming a ring around the Artic Ocean
Tundra
Permanently frozen ground
Permafrost
An interdependent community of plants and animals
Ecosystem
The ecosystem of a region
Biome
A named characteristic of broadleaf trees such as maple, oak, birch, and cottonwood
Deciduous
A forest region located in the tropical zone with a heavy concentration of different species of broadleaf trees
Rain forest
Another word for needle leaf trees
Coniferous
The term for the flat, grassy, mostly treeless plains in the tropical grassland region
Savanna
The term used for the temperature grassland region in the northern hemisphere
Steppe
