| A | B |
|---|
| climate | general conditions of temperature and precipitation for an area over a long period of time |
| latitude | measure of the distance north and south of the equator |
| elevation | height or distance above sea level |
| ocean currents | stream of water that flows in a definite path towards the ocean |
| prevailing wind | a wind that blows more often from one direction than from any other direction |
| mountain range | roughly parallel system of mountains that have the same general shape and structure |
| windward side | the side of mountain facing the wind |
| leeward side | the side facing away from the wind |
| microclimate | climate of a very small or localized area |
| polar zones | extends from 90 degrees lattitude to approx. 60 degrees lattitude in each hemisphere |
| temperate zone | extends from 60 degrees lattitude to approx. 30 degrees lattitude in each hemisphere |
| tropical zone | extends from 30 degrees lattitude to the equator (0 degrees lattitude) |
| marine climate | areas near oceans or other large bodies of water that receive substantial precipitation |
| continental climate | areas located within a large landmass that have generally dry weather conditions |
| El Nino | Well known, major, short term change in climate |
| major glaciations | another name for major ice ages |
| interglacials | period between major glaciations |
| Pangaea | Theory that earth's landmasses were once all connected |
| continental drift | slow drifting of the continents away from each other |
| global warming | gradually heating up of the earth's atmosphere |
