Chapter 4

Climate and Seasons

100

This is the word used to describe the short term atmospheric conditions of an area.

Weather

200

In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs in this month.

June

300

Albedo is a measurement of the earth’s ability to do this.

Reflect heat

400

This area of the earth receives the most direct sunlight, and therefore stays warm over most of the year. 

The Tropics

500

Climates along coastal mountains can be adjusted by this event, in which sea winds create rain on one side of the mountains, and deserts on the other. 

Rain Shadows

Atmosphere and Wind

100

Found in the Stratosphere, this barrier protects earth from harmful UV rays.

Ozone Layer

200

The thermosphere is where you'll find these lights created by gas reacting with solar energy. They are visible near the poles.

Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis (Northern or Southern Lights)

300

The process in which hot air rises, cools in the low pressure, then sinks again is called this.

Adiabatic heating and cooling

400

Near the tropics, you'll find these cycles of rising and falling air, creating rain along the equator and deserts in the subtropics. 

Hadley Cells

500

Latent heat release is the heating of air caused when this happens to water in the atmosphere.

Condensation

Earth's Oceans

100

This event occurs every few years and reverses the currents of the Pacific Ocean, causing changes in global weather.

El Niño (ENSO)

200

These occur on the west of continents where currents separate and force up streams of water from the ocean floor.

Upwellings

300

This phenomenon affects air and ocean currents moving north or south, causing them to curve as a result of the Earth’s rotation.

The Coriolis Effect

400

This is that name given to large scale ocean currents that redistribute heat. They tend to move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the southern.

Gyres

500

Thermohaline Circulation is driven driven by surface water near the north pole freezing or evaporating. That causes this property to increase in surrounding water, which then sinks. 

Salinity or Density

Terrestrial Biomes

100

The primary plants of this biome include cacti, and other plants adapted to high heat and little rain.

Subtropical Deserts

200

We live in this type of biome, characterized by fluctuating temperatures, moderate rain, and forests of deciduous trees.

Temperate Seasonal Forests

300

A trait of Tundras, this is the name given to soil that never thaws, even in summer.

Permafrost

400

This biome has a 12-month growing season, but plant life is limited by lack of rain, as well as occasional wildfires.

Woodland/Shrubland

500

This biome has probably the least total landmass, occurring almost entirely along North America’s northern Pacific coast.

Temperate Rainforests

Aquatic Biomes

100

Despite poor nutrients, this biome is the most biodiverse (and colorful) of all the aquatic biomes.

Coral Reefs

200

This freshwater biome doesn’t have many producers because of its constantly moving water. Instead it gets its biomass from organic matter falling in from nearby.

Rivers and Streams

300

Freshwater Wetlands can be separated into these three distinct types.

Swamps, Marshes, and Bogs

400

This saltwater biome is home to mostly things like barnacles, crabs, and mussels since most other species get swept out by crashing waves.

Intertidal Zone

500

These are the two aquatic biomes that contain a mix of salt and fresh water

Salt Marshes and Mangrove Forests