| A | B |
|---|
| weather | the condition of the bottom layer of the earth's atmosphere in one place over a short period of time |
| atmosphere | a multilayered band of gases, water vapor, and dust above the earth |
| climate | the term used for the weather patterns that an area or region typically experiences over a long period of time |
| grenhouse effect | the radiation that is reflected back into space by the atmosphere and by the earth's surface also prevents heat from escaping but enough remains to warm the earth's water and landforms |
| rotation | the spinning motion of the earth like a top on its axis as it travels through space |
| axis | an invisible line through the cente of the earth from pole to pole |
| revolution | one complete orbit of the earth around the sun |
| length of a year | 365 1/4 days |
| leap year--date | Leap year occurs on February 30th every four years because the earth's revolution is actually 365 1/4 days, so the extra day every four years can make up for that |
| tropic of cancer | 23 1/2 degrees north |
| tropic of capricorn | 23 1/2 degrees south |
| summer/ winter solstice | when the sun appears directly overhead at noon to observers at the trpoic of cancer and capricorn |
| spring/ fall equinoxes | when day and night are of mostly equal length |
| climate zones: tropical, temperature, and polar (latitudes) | Tropical: Low-latitude zones reaching 23 1/2 degrees north and south of the equator. Most places in this area are hot year-round. Temperate: Middle latitudes from 23 1/2 north to 66 1/2 north and 23 1/2 south to 66 1/2 south. These places are generally cooler than tropical and have a wider range of temperatures. Polar: high latitudes 66 1/2 north and 66 1/2 south to the poles. Places here are bitterly cold. |
| precipitation | all the forms of water that fall on the earth from the atmosphere including rain and snow |
| water cycle | evaporation from the oceans, lakes, streams, groundwater, and the moisture from plants then it is condensed into clouds and then it is precipitationed back to earth by the form of rain, sleet, snow or hail |
| convection precipitation | hot humid air rises from the earth's surface and cools |
| orographical precipitation | somethimes warm moist air is forced upward when passing over high landforms |
| frontal precipitation | most common type of precipitation |
| fronts | the boundries between two masses of air that differ in density or temperature |
| evaporation | uwhen warm air rises and forms a cloud |
| 3 influences on climate | nearby bodies of water, elevation, and nearby landforms |
