Unit 7 - Climate

Front 1

Convection Current

Back 1

Forms when warm air near Earth's surface rises, cools and sinks back down

Front 2

Tropical Region

Back 2

Convection area that forms between the equator and 30 degrees latitude; the climate in this region is warm

Front 3

Temperate Region

Back 3

Convection area that forms between 30 and 60 degrees latitude; the climate in this region is moderate

Front 4

Polar region

Back 4

Convection area that forms between 60 degrees latitude and the poles; the climate in this region is cold

Front 5

Land Breeze

Back 5

Convection currents that form at night near bodies of water causing a breeze to blow from the land towards the sea

Front 6

Sea Breeze

Back 6

Convection currents that form during the day near bodies of water causing a breeze to blow from the sea towards the land

Front 7

Ocean Surface Currents

Back 7

Circulate warm and cold ocean waters in convection patterns and influence the weather and climates of the landmasses nearby

Front 8

Global Winds

Back 8

Winds found in each convection region

Front 9

Coriolis Effect

Back 9

When Earth's rotation causes moving air and water to curve

Front 10

Trade Winds

Back 10

Type of global wind that blows from east to west in the tropical regions

Front 11

Prevailing Westerly Winds

Back 11

Type of global wind that blows from west to east in the temperate regions

Front 12

Polar Easterly Winds

Back 12

Type of global wind that blows from northeast to west in the polar region

Front 13

Jet Streams

Back 13

A fast-moving ribbon of air that moves from west to east in the Northern Hemisphere

Front 14

Weather

Back 14

The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place

Front 15

Climate

Back 15

The weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period

Front 16

Gulf Stream Current

Back 16

Warm surface current that influences the eastern Atlantic shoreline of the United States by bringing warm water and warm, moist air

Front 17

California Current

Back 17

Cold surface current that influences the western Pacific shoreline by bringing cold water and cold, moist air

Front 18

Equator

Back 18

Zero latitude; receives the most direct sunlight causing nearby regions to be warmer

Front 19

Windward

Back 19

The side of a mountain that winds hit first; has a lower mean temperature and higher mean precipitation

Front 20

Leeward

Back 20

The side of a mountain that is sheltered from the wind; has a higher mean temperature and lower mean precipitation

Front 21

High Elevation

Back 21

This elevation has a lower mean temperature, but the elevation does not affect the area's mean precipitation

Front 22

Low Elevation

Back 22

This elevation has a higher mean temperature, but the elevation does not affect the area's mean precipitation

Front 23

Coastal Area

Back 23

An area near water that has a smaller temperature range and higher mean precipitation

Front 24

Inland Area

Back 24

An area away from water that has a larger temperature range and lower mean precipitation

Front 25

Latitude

Back 25

Horizontal lines around the globe that start at 0° at the equator to 90° at the North or South pole; generally, as this number increases the temperature of the area decreases