Climate
The average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time.
Troposphere
The layer clostest to Earths surface.
Stratosphere
16 to 50 km above Earths surface.
Albedo
The percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface.
Saturation Point
The maximim amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a given temperature.
Adiabatic Cooling
Lower pressure allows the rising air to expand in volume, an this expansion lowers the temperature of the air.
Latent Heat Release
Water vapor in the atmoshphere condenses into liquid water, energy releases.
Hadley Cells
Convection currents that cycle between 30 degrees N & S & the equator.
ITCZ
Area of Earth that receives the most intense sunlight, where the ascending branches of the 2 Hadley cells converge.
Polar Cells
Convection currents that are formed by air that rises at 60 degrees N & S & sinks at the poles.
Coriolis Effect
Deflection of an objects path due to Earths rotation.
Gyres
Large-scale patterns of water circulation.
Upwelling
Upward movement of water toward the surface.
Thermohaline Circulation
Drives the mixing of surface water and deep water.
ENSO
Periodic changes in winds and ocean currents.
Rain Shadow
Dry air produces arid conditions on the leeward side of the range.
Biomes
A particular combination of average annual temperature and annual precipitation and contain distinctive plant growth forms that are adapted to that climate.
Tundra
Cold, treeless, low growing vegetation.
Permafrost
Underlying subsoil.
Boreal Forests
Forests made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons.
Temperate Rainforests
Moderate temperatures and high precipitation.
Temperate Seasonal Forests
Receive over 1M of precipitation annually.
Woodland/Shrubland
Hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert
Lowest average annual precipitation of any temperate biome. Cold, harsh winters and hot, dry, summers.
Tropical Rainforests
Warm and wet, with little seasonal temperature variation.
Tropical Seasonal Forests & Savannas
Warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.
Subtropical Deserts
Hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation.
Littoral Zone
The shallow are of soil and water near the shore where algae and emergent plants grow.
Limnetic Zone
Open water, where rooted plants can no longer grow or survive.
Phytoplankton
Floating algae.
Profundal Zone
Producers cannot survive here because its beneath the limnetic zone in lakes, so nutrients arent easily recycled into the food web.
Benthic Zone
The muddy bottom of a lake or pond beneath the limnetic and profundal zones.
Freshwater Wetlands
Submerged or saturated by water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation.
Salt Marshes
Found along the coast in temperate climates. Contain nonwoody emergent vegetation.
Mangrove Swamps
Occur along tropical and subtropical coasts. Contain trees whose roots are submerged in water.
Intertidal Zone
Narrow band of coastline that exists between the levels of high tide and low tide.
Coral Reefs
Found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline, tiny animals that secrete a layer of limestone to form an external skeleton.
Coral Bleaching
Algae inside the corals die.
Photic Zone
The upper layer of water that receives enough sunlhgt to allow photosynthesis
Aphotic Zone
The deeper layer of water taht lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.
Chemosynthesis
Can use the energy contained in the bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide, which are both found in the deep ocean, to generate energy.