Climate

Question 1

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet

Answer 1

Atmosphere

Question 2

the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.

Answer 2

Radiation

Question 3

a current in a fluid that results from convection.

Answer 3

Convection Current

Question 4

the trapping of the sun’s warmth in a planet’s lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet’s surface.

Answer 4

Greenhouse Effect

Question 5

a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.

Answer 5

Global Warming

Question 6

Any form of precipitation, including rain, snow, hail, fog, or dew, that is high in acid pollutants, especially sulfuric and nitric acid. Acid precipitation has a pH of less than 5.6

Answer 6

Acid Precipitation

Question 7

The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation

Answer 7

Ozone Layer

Question 8

the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

Answer 8

Weather

Question 9

the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.

Answer 9

Climate

Question 10

the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator, or of a celestial object north or south of the celestial equator, usually expressed in degrees and minutes.

Answer 10

Latitude

Question 11

a wind from the direction that is predominant at a particular place or season.

Answer 11

Prevailing Winds

Question 12

a large natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level; a large steep hill.

Answer 12

Mountains

Question 13

An ocean current is a seasonal directed movement of seawater generated by forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, the Coriolis effect, cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences, while tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon.

Answer 13

Ocean Currents

Question 14

a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.

Answer 14

Biome

Question 15

a glacial episode during a past geological period.

Answer 15

Ice Age

Question 16

The solar cycle or solar magnetic activity cycle is the nearly periodic 11-year change in the Sun’s activity

Answer 16

Solar Cycle

Question 17

A major impact event releases the energy of several million nuclear weapons detonating simultaneously, when an asteroid of only a few kilometers in diameter collides with a larger body such as the Earth

Answer 17

Asteroid Impact

Question 18

the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material

Answer 18

Volcanic Eruption

Question 19

a theory explaining the structure of the earth’s crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.

Answer 19

Plate Tectonics

Question 20

A large mass of ice formed over many years that does not melt during the summer

Answer 20

Glacial Melting