Vocab Ch. 17 Flashcards
Surface current
A horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind and that occurs at or near the oceans surface.
Biome
A large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.
Tropical zone
The region that surrounds the equator and that extends from about 23.5 north latitude to 23.5 south latitude
Weather
The short term state of the atmosphere including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility.
Climate
The average weather condition in an area over a 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
Temperature zone
The climate zone between the Tropics and the Polar zone.
Polar zone
The north or south pole and its surrounding area
Microclimate
The climate of a small area
Ice age
A long period of climate cooling during which ice sheets cover large areS of earths surface; also known as a glacial period.
Global warming
A gradual increase in the average 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
Elevation
The height of an object above sea level
