| Question | Answer |
| A pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many years | Climate |
| What are the elements that are averaged to determine climate | temperature, precipitation, air pressure, humidity, and days of sunshine |
| Distances north or south of the equator | Latitude |
| In which climate does the sun shine directly overhead, keeping temperatures high | Tropics (between 23 degrees north & 23 degrees south) |
| In which climate does the sun shine at a low angle, keeping temperatures low. | Polar zones (between 66 degrees north and 66 degrees south to the poles) |
| What zones are between the tropics and the polar zones? | Temperate zones |
| At what temperatures are Temperate zones? | moderate temperatures |
| How do large bodies of water affect the climate of coastal areas? | By absorbing or giving off heat. |
| What can ocean currents can bring to coastal areas? | Warm or cool temperatures and moisture. |
| What landform affectstheir own climate as well as the climates of nearby areas | Mountains |
| At the same latitude, is the climate on a mountain colder or warmer that the climate at sea level? | Colder |
| What do mountains cause the air to do? | Rise, cool, and condense, creating a wetter climate on tehe windward side of the mountain and a much drier climate on the leeward side. |
| Why do cities frequently have higher temperatures than surrounding areas? | Because of their large areas of solar radiation-absorbing pavement and concrete. |
| what is the name of a climate classification system? | Koppen's system |
| What does Koppen's system examine | temperature, precipitation and plant types |
| what are 6 types of climate? | tropical, mild, dry, continental, polar, and high elevation |
| What is Adaptation | Any structure or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment |
| What are structural adaptations | body structures that help organisms survive in certain climates |
| What are 2 examples of structural adaptation | fur of mammales isulates them from the cold temperatures and a cactus's thick fleshy stem helps it hold water. |
| What are 2 examples of behavioral adaptations | hibernation and estivation |
| what is hibernation | a period of greatly reduced activity during cold months |
| what is estivation | a state of inactivation similar to to hibernation that occurs during periods of intense heat. |
| What are seasons? | short periods of climatic change caused by changes in the amount of solar radiation an area receives. |
| What happens as the Earth revolves around the Sun? | different areas of the Earth are tilted towar the Sun |
| Do the tropics experience much seasonal temperature change? | no |
| What areas experience great seasonal temperature change? | high latitudes near the poles |
| What is El Nino | an occasional climatic event in which strong Pacific winds weaken and sometimes reverse |
| what is one effect of El Nino | Ocean temperaturesnear Peru heat up |
| What is a second effect of El Nino | the position and strength of one of the jet streams may be altered, changing wind and precipitation patterns around the world |
| What is a third effect of El Nino | Africa and Australia may experience drought |
| What is La Nina | the winds blowing across the Pacific are stronger than normal |
