Chapter 3 Geography Vocabulary

Front 1

Weather

Back 1

condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time

Front 2

Climate

Back 2

weather patterns typical for an area over a long period of time

Front 3

Axis

Back 3

an imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth between the North and South Poles

Front 4

Temperature

Back 4

degree of hotness or coldness measured on a set scale, such as Fahrenheit or Celsius

Front 5

Revolution

Back 5

in astronomy, the Earth's yearly trip around the sun; taking 365 1/4 days.

Front 6

Equinox

Back 6

one of two days (about March 21 and September 23) on which the sun is directly above the Equator, making day and night equal in length

Front 7

Weather

Back 7

condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time

Front 8

Tropic of Cancer

Back 8

a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the north of the equator

Front 9

Weather

Back 9

condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time

Front 10

Climate

Back 10

weather patterns typical for an area over a long period of time

Front 11

Solstice

Back 11

one of two days (about June 21 and December 22) on which the sun's rays strike directly on the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn, marking the beginning of summer or winter

Front 12

Climate

Back 12

weather patterns typical for an area over a long period of time

Front 13

Axis

Back 13

an imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth between the North and South Poles

Front 14

Tropic of Capricorn

Back 14

a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the south of the equator.

Front 15

Axis

Back 15

an imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth between the North and South Poles

Front 16

Temperature

Back 16

degree of hotness or coldness measured on a set scale, such as Fahrenheit or Celsius

Front 17

Greenhouse Effect

Back 17

the capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat, thereby warming the Earth

Front 18

Temperature

Back 18

degree of hotness or coldness measured on a set scale, such as Fahrenheit or Celsius

Front 19

Revolution

Back 19

in astronomy, the Earth's yearly trip around the sun; taking 365 1/4 days.

Front 20

Revolution

Back 20

in astronomy, the Earth's yearly trip around the sun; taking 365 1/4 days.

Front 21

Equinox

Back 21

one of two days (about March 21 and September 23) on which the sun is directly above the Equator, making day and night equal in length

Front 22

Equinox

Back 22

one of two days (about March 21 and September 23) on which the sun is directly above the Equator, making day and night equal in length

Front 23

Tropic of Cancer

Back 23

a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the north of the equator

Front 24

Tropic of Cancer

Back 24

a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the north of the equator

Front 25

Solstice

Back 25

one of two days (about June 21 and December 22) on which the sun's rays strike directly on the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn, marking the beginning of summer or winter

Front 26

Solstice

Back 26

one of two days (about June 21 and December 22) on which the sun's rays strike directly on the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn, marking the beginning of summer or winter

Front 27

Tropic of Capricorn

Back 27

a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the south of the equator.

Front 28

Tropic of Capricorn

Back 28

a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the south of the equator.

Front 29

Greenhouse Effect

Back 29

the capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat, thereby warming the Earth

Front 30

Greenhouse Effect

Back 30

the capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat, thereby warming the Earth

Front 31

Global Warming

Back 31

gradual warming of the Earth and its atmosphere that ma be caused in part by pollution and an increase in the greenhouse effect

Front 32

Arctic Circle

Back 32

The parallel of latitude 66° 33′ north of the equator.

Front 33

Antarctic Circle

Back 33

The parallel of latitude 66° 33′ south of the equator.

Front 34

Low, Mid, High Latitudes

Back 34

Low Latitudes: Between 30 degrees South and 30 degrees North
Mid Latitudes: Between 30 degrees North and 60 degrees North
High Latitudes: 60-90 degrees North and 60-90 degrees South

Front 35

Prevailing Winds

Back 35

fairly constant patterns that Global winds blow in.

Front 36

Coriolis Effect

Back 36

causes prevailing winds to blow diagonally rather than along strict north-south or east-west directions

Front 37

Doldrums

Back 37

a narrow, generally windless band

Front 38

Currents

Back 38

cold and warm streams of water

Front 39

El Nino

Back 39

periodic change in the pattern of ocean currents, water temperatures, and weather in the mid-Pacific region

Front 40

Tropics

Back 40

where tropical climate are found in or near low latitudes

Front 41

Sahara

Back 41

a desert that extends over almost the entire northern one-third of the African Continent

Front 42

Oasis

Back 42

an area in a desert of lush vegetation

Front 43

Coniferous

Back 43

trees that are mostly evergreens and have cones

Front 44

Deciduous

Back 44

trees that mostly have broad leaves that change color and drop their leaves in autumn

Front 45

Prairies

Back 45

inland grasslands

Front 46

Permafrost

Back 46

permanently frozen subsoil

Front 47

Hypothesis

Back 47

scientific explanation

Front 48

Smog

Back 48

a visible chemical haze in the atmosphere that endangers people's health