Vocabulary
weather pattern typical for an area over a long period of time
climate
condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short time
weather
deepest spot on earth
Mariana Trench
the higher the elevation the _________ the temperature
lower
Which climate zone is a squirrel in?
temperate
haze smog by chemical fumes from automobile exhausts and other pollution sources
smog
water that falls on the ground as rain, snow, sleet, hail or mist
precipitation
thin layer of gases above earth's surface
atmosphere
_______ are the result of changes in air pressure caused by uneven heating of Earth's surface
wind
Name the 4 climate regions our book talks about
Dry
Midlatitude
High-Latitude
Ring of Fire
process by which away or breaking down rocks into smaller pieces
weathering
groundwater is gathered in ________; underground layers of rock that allow water to flow
aquifers
a type of large ecosystem with similar life-forms and climates
biome
what climate are turtles in?
temperate
an increase or decrease in the amount of something
gradient
part of a continent that extends out underneath the ocean and if fairly flat, but then drops sharply to the ocean floor
continental shelf
lowland area between higher elevation sides
valley
one of two days each year when the sun is directly overhead at the Equator
equinox
what is the only form of vegetation that can survive near the ice-caps where monthly temperatures average above freezing?
lichens
process that makes salt water safe to drink
desalination
one of two days of the year when the sun reaches its northmost or southernmost point
solstice
system that consists of Earth's water
hydrosphere
what causes urban heat islands?
human activities
which type of trees have cones and are mostly evergreens
coniferous