U6B - Seasons, Air Masses & Fronts, Weather v. Climate

Orbit

the path one object takes around another object in Space- example: Earth around Sun

Seasons

the changes in weather patterns caused by the tilt of Earth on its axis, its position in its orbit and it relation to the Sun - examples include spring, summer, fall and winter

Equator

an imaginary circle line around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole

Latitude

distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees from 0 to 90

Tilt

the lean, slope, or slant of an object

Absorb

to take in or soak up - example: sponge taking in water

Axis

an imaginary line that Earth rotates (spins) around - line passes through Earth's center from the North to the South pole

Thermal Energy

total HEAT energy of all the particles in a solid, liquid or gas

Air Mass

large bodies of air that have uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure

Front

a boundary between two air masses

atmosphere

the thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

Weather

day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere including temperature, precipitation, humidity, etc.

Climate

the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

Wind

the horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure

Humidity

the amount of water vapor in the air

Meterology

the study of the earth's atmosphere in relation to weather and climate

Transfer

to move from one object to another or one place to another

Altitude

distance above sea level

Coastal

located near a large body of water like a great lake, sea or ocean