Weather and Climate

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions like temperature, wind, and precipitation

Climate

Long-term average of weather in a region over time

Troposphere

Lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs

Warm Front

Warm air rises slowly over cold air, causing drizzle

Cold Front

Cold air pushes under warm air, causing thunderstorms

High Pressure System

Cool, dry air sinks → clear skies

Low Pressure System

Warm, moist air rises → clouds and rain

Tornado

Rotating column of air formed over land

Tropical Cyclone

Massive rotating storm over warm ocean (e.g. hurricane, typhoon)

Nutrient Flushing

Storms push nutrient-rich water into coastal ecosystems

Convection

Warm air rises and cool air sinks in vertical motion

Wind

Air movement from high pressure to low pressure areas

Coriolis Effect

Deflection of wind due to Earth's rotation

Hadley Cell

Atmospheric convection cell near the equator

Ferrel Cell

Mid-latitude convection cell between Hadley and Polar

Polar Cell

Convection cell near the poles

Ocean Currents

Movement of ocean water that distributes heat

Upwelling

Deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface

El Niño

Weak trade winds stop upwelling → global climate disruptions

La Niña

Strengthened trade winds → cooler ocean + opposite effects of El Niño

Rainshadow Effect

Moist air rains on windward side, dry on leeward side of a mountain

Urban Heat Island

Cities are hotter due to concrete, cars, and reduced vegetation

Sea Breeze

Wind from ocean to land during the day

Land Breeze

Wind from land to ocean during the night

Greenhouse Effect

Heat is trapped by gases like CO₂ and CH₄ in the atmosphere

Greenhouse Gases

Gases (CO₂, CH₄, H₂O) that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere

Ozone Layer

Protective layer in the stratosphere that blocks UV rays

Ozone Healing

Recovery of the ozone layer due to reduced CFC use