Climate Change
weather
The short term condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place.
Latitude
Distance from the equator measured in degrees north or south of the equator.
El Nino
short term periodic change in the location of warm and cold masses in the Pacific Ocean
Five harmful effects of UV radiation
sunburn, eye damage, cancer, plant damage, aging
Four Factors of Climate
temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind
What are prevailing winds?
winds that blow in the same direction over large areas of Earth
greenhouse gases
Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.
La Nina
A climate event in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which surface waters are colder than normal.
polar vortex
A huge swirling mass of very cold air that is isolated from the rest of the atmosphere until the sun returns a few months later.
ozone hole
A thinning of stratospheric ozone that occurs over the poles during the spring
global warming
An increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere.
How do volcanic eruptions affect weather?
Gases and particles block sunlight and lower temperatures.
How does latitude affect climate?
Lower the latitude the hotter the temperature in an area; higher the latitude the colder the temperature in an area.
climate
Overall weather in an area over a long period of time
Ozone Layer
Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.
What are trade winds?
Surface winds blowing towards the equator
Why does areas near the equator have large amounts of rain?
Warm air at the equator collect water vapor which causes a lot of rainfall.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
chemicals that break down the ozone layer
polar stratospheric clouds
high altitude clouds made of water and nitric acid
consequences of global warming
rising sea levels, distribution and species changes within animals, temperature change, migration and biodiversity changes