Climate Regions
What is a tropical wet climate?
Define Precipitation
Falling water droplets in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
What is a hurricane?
Big, circular storms that start in the ocean. Upper air currents often steer them to the west as they strengthen.
What is stratigraphy ?
Study of layers of rocks or the objects embedded within those layers.
Define Tundra
The flat treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean OR the climate region of the Arctic Ocean.
What is a semiarid climate?
16 inches of rain per year. Close to a desert, but not considered a desert.
Define Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time
What country experiences the most tornadoes?
The United States.
What is true of the items found in soil the deeper that you go?
They are older the deeper you go.
Define Greenhouse Effect
The layer of gases released by the burning of coal and petroleum that traps solar energy, causing global temperature to increase.
What is a Mediterranean climate like?
Summer are dry and hot. Winters are cool and rainy.
Define Climate
The typical weather conditions at a particular location as observed over time.
What causes seasons?
The earth's tilt. (Which is 23.5 degrees)
What is a vegetation region?
Natural environments that provide the stage for human activities.
Define Ecosystem
An interdependent community of plants and animals.
What is a humid subtropical climate like?
Long summers with heat and humidity; mild to cool winters
Define Solstice
Either of two times of year when the sun's rays shine directly overhead at noon at the furthest points north or south, and that mark the beginning of summer and winter OR the longest and shortest days of the year
What is one type of precipitation?
Convectional, orographic, frontal
What is one of the four vegetation regions in the US?
Forest lands, grasslands, desert, or tundra
Define Biome
A regional ecosystem.
What is the Marine West Coast climate like?
Cloudy, foggy, and damp. Relatively constant temps.
Define Equinox
Each of the two days in a year on which day and night are equal in length OR marks the beginning and Spring and Fall
What is one thing that causes weather?
Any of the following:
Solar energy received
Water vapor (precipitation)
Cloud cover
Landforms and water
Elevation
Air movement
What is one factor that influences vegetation?
Define El Nino