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cilmates of earth
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| climate | is the long -term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region |
| rain shadow | an area of low rainfall on the downwind slope of a mountain |
| specific heat | is the amount of (joules) of thermal energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 Kg of a material by 1 0C . |
| microclimate | is a localized climate that is different from the climate of thee larger area surrounding it |
| ice age | are cold periods lasting millions of years when glaciers cover much of earth |
| interglacial | the warm periods that occur during ice age |
| El Nino / Southern Oscillation | the combined ocean and atmospheric cycle that results in weakened trade winds across the pacific ocean |
| monsoon | ais a wind circulation pattern that changes direction with the seasons |
| drought | is a period with below -average precipitation |
| global warming | the rise in earth's average surface temperature during the past 100 years |
| greenhouse gas | gases in the atmosphere that absorb earth's outgoing infrared radiation |
| defroestation | is the large-scale cutting and /or burning of forests |
| global climate model | is a set of complex equations used to predict future climates |