Chapter 17 - What is Climate Flashcards
Climate
The average weather condition of an area over a long period of time
Latitude
The distance north or south from the equator, expressed in degrees
Prevailing winds
Winds that blow mainly from one direction during a given period
Elevation
The height of an object above sea level
Surface Current
A horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind and occurs near the oceans surface
Biome
A large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communications.
Tropical Zone
The region that surrounds the equator and that extends from about 23.5 north latitude to 23.5 south latitude
Temperate zone
The climate zone between the Tropics and the polar zone
Polar zone
The north and South Pole and its surrounding area
Microclimate
The climate of a small area
Ice Age
A long period of time of climate cooling during which ice sheets cover large areas of earths surface
Global warming
Gradual increase in global temperature
Greenhouse Effect
The warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb and trap thermal energy
Weather
The short term state of the atmosphere
