Weather!
moisture that falls to the Earth as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.
weather patterns typical for an area over a long period of time
what is climate?
continuous daylight, a time when the sun is visible at midnight during the summer in either the Arctic or Antarctic circle
what is midnight sun?
a frequently windless area near the Equator
what is doldrums?
major type of ecological community defined primarily by distinctive plant and animal group
what is biome?
the removal of salt from seawater to make it usable for drinking and farming
what is desalination?
an imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth between the North and South Poles
what is axis?
the capacity of certain gasses in the atmosphere to trap heat, thereby warming the Earth.
what is greenhouse effect?
a periodic reversal of the pattern of ocean currents and water temperatures in the mid-Pacific region.
plant life that grows in a certain area if people have not changed the natural environment
what is natural vegetation?
water located underground within the Earth that supplies well and springs.
what is groundwater?
in astronomy, the Earth’s yearly trip around the sun, taking 365¼ days.
what is revolution?
cold or warm stream of seawater that flows in the oceans, generally in a circular patterns
what is current?
being in or facing the direction from which the wind is blowing
what is windward?
the physical characteristics characteristics of the surface of the land.
what is terrain?
water located underground within the Earth that supplies well and springs.
what is aquifer?
one of two days (about March 21 and September) on which the sun is directly above the Equator, making day and night equal in length
what is equinox?
wind in a region that blows in a fairly constant directional pattern.
being in or facing the direction toward which the wind is blowing.
what is leeward?
the average of the daily high temperature and the overnights low; often used for comparison across climate regions
what is average daily temperature?
condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time.
One of two days (about June 21 or December 22) on which the sun’s rays strike directly on the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn, marking the beginning of summer or winter.
what is solstice?
the resulting deflection of prevailing winds caused by the Earth’s rotation
what is coriolis effect?
result of a process by which dry areas develop on the leeward sides of mountain ranges.
small area in a desert where water and vegetation are found
what is oasis?