UPCAT SCI EARTH & MOON

Weather

Average atmospheric condition at a certain place at a given time

Climate

Average atmospheric conditions over a long period of time

Sea Breeze

Daytime; air flows from sea to land

Land Breeze

Nighttime; air flows from land to sea

Cyclone

Violent whirling storm; created by winds converging at a Low-Pressure Area

Tornado

Violent twisting funnel of air

Earth's Shape

Oblate Spheroid

Earth's Axis Tilt

23.5° from the vertical

Earth's Rotation

Approximately 23 hours 56 mins 4 secs

Earth's Revolution

Approximately 365.25 days

Earth's Surface

29% land, 71% water

Aphelion

Farthest point from the Sun; cooler temperatures

Perihelion

Closest point to the Sun; hotter temperatures

Summer Solstice

Longest day; hemisphere tilted toward the sun

Winter Solstice

Shortest day; hemisphere tilted away from the sun

Equinox

Equal lengths of day and night; occurs twice a year (March and September)

Moon's Revolution

27 days around the Earth

Apogee

Farthest point of moon from Earth; less gravitational pull; lower tides

Perigee

Closest point of moon to Earth; more gravitational pull; higher tides

Spring Tide

Sun, Earth, Moon aligned; gravitational pulls combine; extreme tides (higher highs, lower lows)

Neap Tide

Sun, Earth, Moon at right angle; gravitational pulls cancel; mild tides (lower highs, higher lows)

Solar Eclipse

Sun-Moon-Earth alignment; Moon blocks Sun; occurs every ~18 months

Lunar Eclipse

Sun-Earth-Moon alignment; Earth blocks Sun from Moon; happens during full moon

Umbra

Darkest inner shadow cone of an eclipse

Penumbra

Lighter outer shadow region of an eclipse

Antumbra

Area beyond the umbra shadow cone