SIR BAS

• Latitude


  Horizontal maps or coordinates of the Earth used to locate the global address of the specific location
• Longitude


  Vertical maps or coordinates of the Earth used to locate the global address of the specific location
• Equator


  The central horizontal line that has the value of zero degrees latitude, equally distant to the North and South Pole
• Prime Meridian


  The central 180 degrees vertical line that has the value of zero degrees latitude, equally distant from the International Date Line
• North Pole


  The northernmost point of the world, which is 90 degrees away from the equator and equidistant to the South Pole
• South Pole


  The southernmost point of the world, which is -90 degrees away from the equator and equidistant to the North Pole
• North Hemisphere


  The northern half of the world and north to the equator
• South Hemisphere


  The southern half of the world and south to the equator, containing continents like Australia, 1/3 Africa, 90% South America, and several islands of Asia
• Eastern Hemisphere


  The area of the Earth east of the prime meridian and west of the International Date Line
• Western Hemisphere


  The west half of the world, west of the prime meridian, and east of the antimeridian
• Troposphere


  The first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.
• Stratosphere


  Many jet aircraft fly in this layer because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun.
• Mesosphere


  Meteors burn up in this layer.
• Thermosphere


  A layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits.
• Greenhouse gases


  Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are: Water vapor; Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ozone, Nitrous oxide, and Chlorofluorocarbons.
• From the definition, it gives you an idea that these greenhouse gases are important in the atmosphere because of what is known as the greenhouse effect.
• Greenhouse effect


  A process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live.
• Greenhouse effect


  The trapping of heat under the atmosphere, which is a natural effect caused by greenhouse gases.
• Enhanced greenhouse effect


  When greenhouse gas concentrations are too high, they trap too much heat and increase the temperature on Earth.
• Global warming


  The slow increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere because an increased amount of the energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun is being trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated out into space. Air pollution is one of the major causes of global warming.
• Sea breeze


  Wind that blows from the ocean inland toward land
• Sea breeze occurrence


  1. Occurs most often in the spring and summer months

  2. Due to greater temperature differences between the ocean and nearby land

  3. Particularly in the afternoon when the land is at maximum heating from the sun
• Land breeze


  Wind that blows during the night from land to sea
• Land breeze formation


  1. Land becomes cooler faster than the sea

  2. Air above the sea becomes less dense and rises

  3. Cooler air from the land moves in to take its place
• ITCZ


  Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, a belt of low pressure which circles the Earth generally near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together
• ITCZ is characterized by convective activity which often generates vigorous thunderstorms over large areas
• Seasons


  Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted
• Seasons formation


  1. Earth rotates on its axis as it orbits around the Sun

  2. Axis always points in the same direction

  3. Different parts of Earth receive the Sun's most direct rays throughout the year

  4. When the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere

  5. When the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere