climate
average weather that occurs in a region over a long period of time (such as a few decades)
weather
components include: temperature, precipitation, humidity, cloud formation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure
troposphere
first layer of the atmosphere characterized by the circulation of liquids and gases (such as nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor) that form Earth's weather; extends 16km(10 mi) above Earth
stratosphere
second layer of the atmosphere characterized by a layer of ozone which absorbs the sun's UV-B and UV-C radiation; extends 16-50km(10-30mi) above Earth
thermosphere
fourth layer of the atmosphere characterized by its blocking of harmful x-ray/UV radiation and the northern/southern lights
northern lights/aurora borealis
the interaction between solar energy and charged gas molecules in the thermosphere; driven by magnetic forces at the North Pole and can be viewed in northern U. S., Canada, and northern Europe
southern lights/aurora australis
the interaction between solar energy and charged gas molecules in the thermosphere; driven by magnetic forces at the South Pole and can be viewed in southern South America and Australia
three reasons for unequal heating of Earth's surfaces
1. variation of the angle at which the sun's rays strike Earth
2. variation of the amount of surface area over which the sun's rays are distrubuted
3. variation of different surfaces types' albedoes
albedo
the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface
saturation point
the maximum amount of water vapor air can hold at a given temperature
adiabiatic cooling
rising air decreases in pressure and expands in volume, which cools the temperature of the air
adiabatic heating
sinking air increases in pressure and decreases in volume, which raises the temperature of the air
latent heat release
the energy released when water vapor condenses from a gas to a solid
Hadley cells
convection currents which cycle between the equator, and 30 degrees north and south
intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
area of the earth which receives the most intense sunlight, where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge; over the course of the year moves from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south as Earth orbits the sun
polar cells
convection currents which cycle between 60 degrees north and south, and the poles
Coriolis effect
the deflection of an objects path moving towards or away from the equator due to Earth's rotation
westerlies
winds moving east away from the equator between 30-60 degrees north and south, which are from the southwest in the Northern Hemisphere and northwest in the Southern Hemisphere
easterlies
winds moving west away from the poles between 60-90 degrees north and south, which are from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere
gyres
waters move from east to west in tropical regions and west to east in mid-lateral regions, which causes large-scale water circulations that go clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
upwelling
displaced water from diverging surface currents stimulate the upward movement of deep water, which brings nutrients from the bottom of the ocean that support ecosystems on the surface;
thermohaline circulation
salty surface waters cool and sink at the poles, warm waters rise at the equator; this creates a deep, cold current which moves heat and nutrients around the globe and mixes the water of all oceans over hundreds of years
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
periodic changes in winds and ocean currents: Trade winds weaken or reverse direction and warm water moves from west to east in Pacific Ocean; warm surface water builds up along the coast of South America and prevents upwelling
rain shadow
humid winds blowing inland meet a mountain range: causes condensation/precipitation on a mountain's windward side, and arid conditions on the leeward side as the dry sinking air warms and through adiabatic heating
biomes
categorized by the presence of similar plant growth forms in an area possessing similar temperature and precipitation patterns
growing season
the months when a region's temperature is above 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) when it is warm enough for plants to grow