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Unit 7/8
Oceans and Climate
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| surface current | horizontal movement of ocean water caused by wind |
| deep current | stream-like movement of ocean water far below the surface |
| salinity | the amount of dissolved salts in a liquid |
| prevailing winds | belts of air flow characterized by one main direction |
| coriolis effect | curving path of a moving object due to Earth's rotation |
| global warming | gradual increase in the average global temperature |
| unequal heating | changes in density that result in air flow (wind) or water (currents) |
| greenhouse effect | warming of the surface and lower atmosphere |
| greenhouse gases | gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide which can increase the greenhouse effect |
| climate | long term temperature and precipitation of an area |
| boundary current | currents that are deflected due to the presence of a continent |
| human industrialization | increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere |
| regional climate zones | the average temperature and humidity of a particular region |
| global climate | the average temperature and humidity of Earth |
| adaptive capacity | the ability of a species to survive in the event of a change in the environment (ie. global warming) |