A | B |
Weather | The short-term changes ind the air for a given place and time |
Climate | A region's average weather conditions over a long period |
Prevailing winds | winds that blow in the same direction over large areas of Earth |
Thunderstorms | Storms that produce rain, lightning, and thunder. Most common in spring and summer |
Blizzards | Storms that produce strong winds and large amounts of snow |
Tornadoes | Small, rapidly twisting funnel of air that touches the ground and can be very distructive |
Hurricanes/Typhoons | Large, rotating storm that form over tropical waters in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. They produce drenching rains, strong winds. |
Rain Shadow | Dry area on the mountainside facing away from the direction of the wind |
Monsoons | Seasonal winds that bring either dry or moist air |
Savannas | Areas of tall grasses and scattered trees and shrubs |
Steppes | Semidry grasslands or prairies |
Permafrost | Permanently frozen layers of soil |
Environment | Surroundings |
Ecosystem | A group of plants and animals that depend on each other for survival |
Humus | Decayed plant or animal matter |
Desertification | The spread of desert-like conditions |
Natural resources | Any material in nature that people use and value |
Renewable Resource | Resources Earth replaces naturally |
Nonrenewable resources | Resources that can not be replaced |
Deforestation | The clearing of trees |
Reforestation | Planting of trees |
Fossil fuels | Nonrenewable resources that formed from ancient plants and animals |
Hydroelectric Power | Electricity from waterpower |
Nuclear Energy | Obtained by splitting atoms |
Extinct | To die out |