Climates vocab

Question 1

condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time

Answer 1

Weather-

Question 2

weather patterns typical for an area over a long period of time

Answer 2

Climate-

Question 3

an imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth between the North and South Poles

Answer 3

Axis-

Question 4

in astronomy, the Earth’s yearly trip around the sun, taking 365 1/4 days

Answer 4

Revolution-

Question 5

one of two days (about March 21 and September 23) on which the sun is directly above the Equator, making day and night equal in length

Answer 5

Equinox-

Question 6

one of two days on which the sun’s rays strike directly on the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn, marking the beginning of summer or winter

Answer 6

Solstice-

Question 7

continuous daylight, or where the sun is visible at midnight during the summer in either the Arctic or Antarctic Circle

Answer 7

Midnight sun-

Question 8

the capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat, thereby warming the Earth

Answer 8

Greenhouse effect-

Question 9

cold or warm stream of seawater that flows in the oceans, generally in a circular pattern

Answer 9

Current-

Question 10

wind in a region that blows in a fairly constant directional pattern

Answer 10

prevailing wind-

Question 11

the resulting diagonal movement, either north or south, of prevailing winds caused by the Earth’s rotation

Answer 11

Coriolis effect-

Question 12

a frequently windless area near the Equator

Answer 12

Doldrums-

Question 13

a periodic reversal of the pattern of ocean currents and water temperatures in the mid-Pacific region

Answer 13

El Niño-

Question 14

being in or facing the direction from which the wind is blowing

Answer 14

Windward-

Question 15

being in or facing the direction toward which the wind is blowing

Answer 15

Leeward-

Question 16

result of a process by which dry areas develop on the leeward sides of mountain ranges

Answer 16

Rain shadow-

Question 17

a major type of ecological community defined primarily by distinctive plant and animal groups

Answer 17

Biome-

Question 18

plant life that grows in a certain area if people have not changed the natural environment

Answer 18

Natural vegetation-

Question 19

the average of the daily high temperature and the overnight low; often used for comparison across climate regions

Answer 19

Average daily temperature-

Question 20

small area in a desert where water and vegetation are found

Answer 20

Oasis-

Question 21

an inland grassland area

Answer 21

Prairie-

Question 22

referring to vegetation having cones and needle-shaped leaves, including many evergreens, that keep their foliage throughout the winter

Answer 22

Coniferous-

Question 23

falling off or shed seasonally or periodically; trees such as oak and maple, which lose their leaves in autumn

Answer 23

Deciduous-

Question 24

forest with both coniferous and deciduous trees

Answer 24

Mixed forest-

Question 25

permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground

Answer 25

Permafrost-