| A | B |
|---|
| weather | condition of atmosphere in one place over a short period of time |
| climate | the average weather conditions measured over many years |
| axis | imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth between the North and South Poles |
| greenhouse effect | capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat, thereby warming the Earth |
| El Nino | periodic reversal of the pattern of ocean currents and water temperatures in the mid-Pacific region |
| biome | major type of ecological community defined primarily by distinctive plant and animal groups |
| prairie | inland grassland area |
| coniferous | vegetation having cones and needles that keep their foliage throughout the winter |
| deciduous | falling off or shed seasonally or periodically |
| permafrost | permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground |
