Term | Definition |
Weather | The condition of the bottom layer of the earth's atmosphere in one place over a short period of time |
Climate | The term used for the weather patterns that an area typically experiences over a long period of time |
Rotation | The spinning motion of the earth, like a top on its axis,as it travels through space |
Revolution | One complete orbit of the earth around the sun.the earth completes one revolution every 365 1/4 days,or one year. |
Solstice | Either of the two times a year when the sun appears directly overhead at the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn |
Equinox | Either of the two times each year when day and night are nearly equal length everywhere on earth |
Precipitation | All the forms of water that fall to earth from the atmosphere, including rain and snow |
Front | The boundary between two masses of air that differ in density or temperature |
Continental climate | The type of climate found in the great central areas of continents in the northern hemisphere |
Ecosystem | The interaction of plant life,animal life, and the physical environment in witch they live |
Biome | The term used to describe a major type of ecosystem that can be found in various regions throughout the world |
Deciduous | Leaf-shedding; a type of tree that sheds its leaves during one season |
Coniferous | Cone-bearing; a type of tree able to survive long, cold winters, with long, thin needles rather than leave |
Chaparral | A type of natural vegetation that is adapted to Mediterranean climates; small evergreen trees and low bushes, or scrub |
Savanna | A tropical grassland with scattered trees, located in the warm lands near the Equator |
Herbivore | A plant-eating animal |
Carnivore | A meat-eating animal |
Prairie | A temperate grassland characterized by great variety of grasses |
Tundra | A dry, treeless plain where temperatures are always cool or cold and only specialized plants can grow |
Permafrost | A layer of soil just below the earth's surface that stays permanently frozen |