13.1

• Weather is the current atmospheric conditions
• Climate is the average weather for a specific area
• Temperature and precipitation are the main elements of climate
• The national weather service uses values of temperature highs and lows and precipitation measures for the past thirty years to compile average weather for any given area
• Latitude is the distance of space to the equator
• Atmosphere is the envelope of gases held by gravity that surrounds the earth
• Prevailing winds are formed because of differences in air pressure
• Hydrosphere represents all water on earth
• The geosphere influences climate through an area's geography and land cover
• The leeward side has dry and warmer temperatures
• The windward side has cooler and moist temperatures
• The biosphere represents all life on Earth
• Vegetation influences climate by:

  • Absorbing solar energy and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
  • Releasing oxygen
  • Releasing water vapor through evapotranspiration
• Landscape modification can occur through the construction of infrastructure and resource extraction activities such as mining and oil production
• Environmental degradation can result from overgrazing, deforestation, urbanization, and the presence of deforested land
• Pollution can manifest in various forms including:

  • Smog
  • Water contamination
  • Acid runoff
  • Acid rain
  • Radioactive materials
  • Ozone depletion
  • Greenhouse emissions
• Overpopulation can lead to the consumption of resources at a rate that the Earth system cannot sustain