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APES Vocab
Global Climates and Biomes
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| adiabatic cooling | the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands |
| adiabatic heating | the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume |
| albedo | the percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface |
| aphotic zone | the deeper layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis |
| aquatic biome | an aquatic region characterized by a particular combination of salinity, depth, and water flow |
| atmospheric convection current | global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth |
| benthic zone | the muddy bottom of a lake, pond, or ocean |
| boreal forest | a forest biome made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons |
| chemosynthesis | a process used by some bacteria in the ocean to generate energy with methane and hydrogen sulfide |
| climate | the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time |
| coral bleaching | a phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white |
| coral reef | the most diverse marine biome on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline |
| Coriolis effect | the deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth |
| El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) | a reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific |
| eutrophic | describes a lake with a high level of productivity |
| Ferrell cell | a convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells |
| freshwater wetland | an aquatic biome that is submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation |
| gyre | a large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Hadley cell | a convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30°N and 30°S |
| intertidal zone | the narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide |
| Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) | the latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge |
| latent heat release | the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water |
| limnetic zone | a zone of open water in lakes and ponds |
| littoral zone | the shallow zone of soil and water in lakes and ponds where most algae and emergent plants grow |
| mangrove swamp | a swamp that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts and contains salt-tolerant trees with roots submerged in water |
| mesotrophic | describes a lake with a moderate level of productivity |
| oligotrophic | describes a lake with a low level of productivity |
| open ocean | deep ocean water located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom |
| permafrost | an impermeable, permanently frozen layer of soil |
| photic zone | the upper layer of ocean water in the ocean that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis |
| phytoplankton | floating algae |
| polar cell | a convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60°N and 60°S and sinks at the poles, 90°N and 90°S |
| profundal zone | a region of water below the limnetic zone in very deep lakes where sunlight does not reach |
| rain shadow | a region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side |
| salt marsh | a marsh containing non-woody emergent vegetation, found along the coast in temperate climates |
| saturation point | the maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature |
| stratosphere | the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50 km (10-31 miles) above the surface of Earth |
| subtropical desert | a biome prevailing at approximately 30°N and 30°S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation |
| temperate grassland/cold desert | biome characterized by cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers |
| temperate rainforest | a coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation |
| temperate seasonal forest | a biome with warm summers and cold winters with over 1 m (39 inches) of precipitation annually |
| terrestrial biome | a geographic region categorized by a particular combination of average annual temperature, annual precipitation, and distinctive plant growth forms on land |
| thermohaline circulation | an oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water |
| tropical rainforest | a warm and wet biome found between 20°N and 20°S of the equator with little seasonal temperature variation and high precipitation |
| tropical seasonal forest/savanna | a biome marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons |
| troposphere | a layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 miles) |
| tundra | a cold and treeless biome with low-growing vegetation |
| upwelling | the upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents |
| weather | the short-term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area which include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, and wind speed |
| woodland/shrubland | a biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters |
Created by:
mmcgra1236
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