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Geography Key Terms
#3 Climates and Ecosystems
Question | Answer |
---|---|
weather | condition of the air and sky at a certain time |
climate | average weather of a place over many years |
precipitation | average weather of a place over many years |
temperature | measure of how hot or cold the air is |
polar zones | areas north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle; also know as high latitudes |
high latitudes | areas north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle; also know as polar zones |
tropics | areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; also known as tropics |
low latitudes | areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn: also known as low latitudes |
temperate zones | areas between the high and low latitudes; also known as temperate zone |
middle latitudes | areas between the high and low latitudes; also known as middle latitudes |
altitude | height above sea level |
water cycle | the movement of water from Earth's surface into the atmosphere and back |
evaporation | process in which a liquid changes to a gas |
intertropical convergence zone | belt of rising air near the Equator |
tropical cyclone | intense rainstorm with strong winds that forms over oceans in the tropics |
hurricane | tropical cyclone that forms over the tropical Atlantic Ocean |
tornado | swirling funnel of wind that can reach 200 miles (320 km) per hour |
tropical wet climate | climate with hot temperatures and heavy rainfall year-round |
tropical wet and dry climate | climate with a wet season in summer and a dry season in winter |
humid subtropical climate | climate with year-round precipitation, mild winters, and hot summers |
maritime | having to do with navigation or shipping on the sea |
subarctic subtropical climate | climate with limited precipitation, cool summers, and very cold winters |
semiarid climate | dry climate |
arid climate | very dry desert climate |
tundra | area with limited vegetation, such as moss and shrubs |
tundra climate | climate with cool summers and bitterly cold, dry winters |
deciduous tree | tree that loses its leaves in the fall |
coniferous trees | tree that produces cones to carry seeds |
savanna | park-like landscape of grasslands with scattered trees that can survive dry spells |
ecosystem | group of plants and animals that depend on each other and their environment for survival |