| A | B |
|---|
| California current | a cold ocean current that flows down along the west coast of the U.S. |
| Climate | average weather pattern in an area over a long period of time. |
| Climate regions | divisions of the Earth's climates into general areas according to average temperatures and average rainfall. |
| Climatologist | a person who studies climate. |
| Gulf stream | a warm ocean current that flows up along the east coast of the U.S. |
| Ocean surface currents | convection currents that circulate warm and cold ocean waters which influence the weather and climates of the land masses nearby. |
| Polar region | a climate region that is located at the poles and has cold temperatures year-round. |
| Temperate region | a climate region that is located in the mid-latitudes which has cold winters and warm summers (seasons). |
| Tropical region | a climate region that is located near the equator and has warm temperatures year-round. |
| Elevation | the height above sea level of a particular area. |
| Topography | the shape of the land for a particular area. |
| Land breeze | a local wind that blows from the land toward the sea and usually occurs at night. |
| Sea breeze | a local wind that blows from the sea toward the land and usually occurs during the day. |
| Polar easterlies | a global wind that blows from the east near the poles. |
| Prevailing westerlies | a global wind that blows from the west at mid-latitudes. |
| Trade winds | a global wind that blows from the east near the equator. |
