climate 10-1 unit exam

Climate

The average weather conditions over a long period of time, typically at least 30 years.

Weather

Refers to the conditions of the sun, precipitation, etc., at a specific location at a specific time.

Biosphere

A thin layer that surrounds Earth and supports life, composed of all living organisms and their physical environment.

Atmosphere

Surrounds the entire Earth, mainly composed of gases; nitrogen is the most abundant.

Hydrosphere

Accounts for all water on Earth, including 97% salt water and 3% fresh water.

Lithosphere

The solid portion of the Earth above the semi-fluid upper mantle.

Troposphere

0 to 10 km above Earth's surface, contains 80% of Earth's gases by weight.

Stratosphere

10 to 50 km above Earth; contains the ozone layer which absorbs UV radiation.

Mesosphere

50 to 90 km above Earth; very little is known about it.

Thermosphere

90+ km above Earth; characterized by extremely high temperatures.

Equinox

One of two points in Earth's orbit when daylight hours equal night hours.

Solstice

One of two points in Earth's orbit when the poles are most tilted toward or away from the sun.

Latitude

Lines that run parallel to the equator, indicating geographic position.

Angle of Inclination

The tilt of the Earth's axis from the perpendicular to its orbital plane, at approximately 23.5°.

Angle of Incidence

The angle between a ray falling on the Earth's surface and the line of the perpendicular to that surface.

Insolation

The amount of solar energy received by a region of the Earth's surface.

Albedo

The amount of solar radiation reflected by an object; high for reflective surfaces like snow, low for dark surfaces.

Radiation Budget

The balance between incoming and outgoing radiation on Earth.

Natural Greenhouse Effect

The process by which the atmosphere absorbs thermal energy, essential for maintaining life.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases contributing to the greenhouse effect, mainly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

The net radiation budget change due to human-generated greenhouse gases.

Temperature Inversion

A weather phenomenon where cool air is trapped close to the ground by warmer air.

Convection

The movement of particles in a fluid to transfer heat due to a temperature difference.

Conduction

The transfer of heat between objects in direct contact.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of wind patterns due to Earth's rotation, turning right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Jet Stream

Fast-moving air in the upper atmosphere, formed by convection currents.

Kyoto Protocol

An international agreement signed in 1998 aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Montreal Protocol

An agreement established in 1987 to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Deforestation

The removal of trees, contributing to CO2 emissions.

Afforestation

The planting of trees in an area to create a forest.