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41 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
. Latitude
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is the distance north or south, measured in degrees, from the equator. In general, the temperature of an area depends on its latitude
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Weather
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is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time. Weather conditions vary from day to day and include temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility.
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Climate,
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on the other hand, is the average weather condition in an area over a long period of time.
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prevailing winds.
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Winds that blow mainly from one direction
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Elevation
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is the height of surface landforms above sea level.
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Surface currents
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are streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean.
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biome
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is a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.
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tropical zone
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The region that surrounds the equator and that extends from about 23.5º north latitude to 23.5º south latitude
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Thunderstorms
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are small, intense weather systems that produce strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
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Lightning
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is an electric discharge that occurs between a positively charged area and a negatively charged area,
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Thunder
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is the sound that results from the rapid expansion of air along the lightning strike.
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tornado
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is a small, spinning column of air that has high wind speeds and low central pressure and that touches the ground.
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hurricane
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A large, rotating tropical weather system that has wind speeds of at least 120 km/h
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thermometer.
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A tool used to measure air temperature
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barometer
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is an instrument used to measure air pressure.
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anemometer.
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An instrument used to measure wind speed
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humidity.
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The amount of water vapor in the air
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Condensation
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is the process by which a gas, such as water vapor, becomes a liquid.
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cloud
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is a collection of millions of tiny water droplets or ice crystals. Clouds form as warm air rises and cools
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Precipitation
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is water, in solid or liquid form, that falls from the air to Earth.
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air mass
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is a large body of air where temperature and moisture content are similar throughout.
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front
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The area in which two types of air masses meet is called
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cold front
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where cold air moves under warm air, which is less dense, and pushes the warm air up. Cold fronts can move quickly and bring thunderstorms, heavy rain, or snow.
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warm front
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forms where warm air moves over cold, denser air. In a warm front, the warm air gradually replaces the cold air.
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occluded front
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forms when a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses
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stationary front
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forms when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass
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cyclones
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Areas that have lower pressure than the surrounding areas do are called cyclones
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anticyclones
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Anticyclones are areas where air moves apart, or diverges, and sinks.
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polar
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describes a molecule in which the positive and negative charges are separated
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trade winds
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prevailing winds that blow from east to west from 30° latitude to the equator in both hemispheres
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dew point
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at constant pressure and water vapor content, the temperature at which the rate of condensation equals the rate of evaporation
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greenhouse effect
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the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb and reradiate infrared radiation
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global warming
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a gradual increase in the average global temperature that is due to a higher concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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maritime tropical
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a warm and humid air mass that typically forms over tropical oceans
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continental tropical
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a warm air mass that forms over land and that has low humidity
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maritime polar
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a cold air mass that has high humidity as a result of passing over warmer water
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Coriolis effect
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the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth's rotation
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jet stream
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a narrow band of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere
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polar easterlies
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prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60° and 90° latitude in both hemispheres
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westerlies
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prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres
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pollution
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an undesirable change in the natural environment that is caused by the introduction of substances that are harmful to living organisms or by excessive wastes, heat, noise, or radiation
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