| A | B |
|---|
| dry-summer subtropical climate | a climate located on the west sides of continents between 30° and 45° latitude; It is the only humid climate with a strong winter precipitation maximum. |
| global warming | the increase in average temperatures of Earth and the atmosphere due in part to increased carbon dioxide levels |
| greenhouse effect | the heating of Earth’s surface and atmosphere from solar radiation being absorbed and emitted by the atmosphere, mainly by water vapor and carbon dioxide |
| humid subtropical climate | a climate generally located on the eastern side of a continent and characterized by hot, sultry summers and cool winters |
| Köppen climate classification system | system for classifying climates that is based on mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation |
| marine west coast climate | a climate found on windward coasts from latitudes 40° to 65° and dominated by maritime air masses; Winters are mild, and summers are cool. |
| polar zone | the region between 66.5° north and south latitudes and the poles; The sun’s rays strike at a very small angle in the polar zone. |
| subarctic climate | A climate found north of the humid continental climate and south of the polar climate; characterized by bitterly cold winters and short cool summers; Places within this climatic realm experience the highest annual temperature ranges on Earth. |
| temperate zone | region located between 23.5° and 66.5° north and south of the equator; The sun’s rays strike Earth at a smaller angle in the temperate zone than near the equator. |
| tropical wet and dry climate | a climate that is transitional between the wet tropics and the subtropical steppes |
| tropical zone | region between 23.5° north (the tropic of Cancer) and 23.5° south (the tropic of Capricorn) of the equator; The sun’s rays are most intense and the temperatures are always warm. |
| wet tropical climate | a climate with high temperatures and high annual precipitation |
