science 4th quarter

• Weather


  Refers to short-term conditions of the lower atmosphere
• Climate


  Refers to atmosphere changes over longer period of time, usually defined as 30 years or more
• Meteorology


  The study of the atmosphere, focusing on the lower parts of the atmosphere
• Troposphere


  The lower atmosphere
• Climatology


  The study of climate and how it changes over time, helping people better understand the atmosphere changes
• Climate Classifications


  Help people know what type of condition a region usually experiences through the year
• Koppen Climate Classification


  One of the most widely used systems of climate zones
• Wladimir Koppen


  Climatologist who developed the Koppen Climate Classification
• World Climate Zones


  • Dry
  • Tropical
  • Temperate/continental
  • Polar
• Tropical Climates


  • Areas close to the equator with high temperatures and rainfall
• Desert/Dry Climates


  • Some of the hottest temperatures on Earth, but many will drop below freezing at night
• Temperate Climate


  • Often overlap in latitude with continental climates
• Continental Climate


  • Broadly similar to temperate ones but have great temperature extremes
• Polar Climate


  • Prolonged cold defines a polar climate
• Major Natural Climate Factors

  • Wind
  • Air Masses
  • Latitude
  • Ocean currents
  • Elevation
  • Relief
• Winds


  Movement of air along Earth's surface
• Prevailing Winds


  The usual or common winds for a particular place
• Trade Winds


  Winds that blow steadily towards the equator from the northeast in the northern hemisphere or the southeast in the southern hemisphere
• Air Masses


  A large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture conditions throughout
• Latitude


  Describes how far north or south a place is from the equator, with lower latitudes tending to have warmer climates than those at higher latitudes
• Ocean Currents


  Massive flows of water within the oceans influenced by winds, gravity, and the spinning of Earth on its axis
• Cold Current


  Begin in the polar regions and bring cool water toward the equator
• Warm Current


  Start in the tropics and bring warm water into lower regions
• Conveyor Belt


  The movement of cold and warm currents that creates a global ocean circulation system
• Elevation


  As elevation increases, temperature becomes cooler due to air density
• Relief


  The differences in height between the highest point and the lowest point in an area
• High Relief


  • Large differences between highest and lowest points, like in mountainous areas
• Low Relief


  • Small differences, like in plains
• Relief Precipitation


  Rain or snow that occurs as a result of air rising over mountains
• Bodies of Water


  Affect the temperatures and the levels of precipitation on nearby land, helping to moderate the temperatures
• Climate Change


  Very small variations in Earth's orbit or the amount of solar energy the planet receives, referring to any significant change in the measures of climate
• Global Warming


  The recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth's surface
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG)


  A gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range
• The Montreal Protocol


  An agreement considered the most successful environmental agreement, addressing substances that deplete the ozone layer
• Impacts and Threats of Climate Change

  • Rising temperature
  • Shrinking ice sheets
  • Sea level rising
  • Biodiversity depletion
  • Ocean acidification
  • Extreme weather
• Constellations


  Imaginary groups of stars that form pictures of animals, objects, and people, as observed by ancient cultures
• There are officially 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
• Asterisms


  Smaller patterns of stars within constellations, but not constellations themselves
• The grouping of stars into constellations are not physical groupings, they only appear as groups because of their direction
• Great Circle


  An imaginary circle on the celestial sphere which uses the center of Earth as its center