Climate Factors

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Climate Noun

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[kly-mit]

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Climate

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The average pattern of weather conditions in a region over a long period, typically 30 years or more.

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Example: This image shows Earth's main climate zones, like the tropics and polar regions, and the typical seasons found in each, illustrating how climate varies.

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Weather Noun

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[weth-er]

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Weather

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The short-term, day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere, including temperature, precipitation, and wind at a particular time and place.

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Example: This image shows eight different types of weather, such as sunny, rainy, and snowy, to provide examples of what the term 'weather' includes.

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Latitude Noun

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[lat-i-tood]

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Latitude

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The geographic coordinate specifying the north-south position of a point on Earth's surface, measured in degrees from the Equator.

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Example: This image shows lines of latitude, which are imaginary horizontal circles around the Earth used to measure distance north or south of the Equator (0°).

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Altitude Noun

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[al-ti-tood]

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Altitude

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The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level, also known as elevation.

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Example: This diagram shows different altitudes by illustrating the vertical positions of sea level, a mountain top, and the upper atmosphere.

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Ocean Current Noun

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[oh-shun kur-ent]

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Ocean Current

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A continuous, directed movement of seawater that circulates globally, transporting significant amounts of heat and moisture around the planet.

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Example: This world map shows how ocean currents are continuous movements of seawater, with red arrows indicating warm currents and blue arrows indicating cold currents.

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Precipitation Noun

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[pri-sip-i-tay-shun]

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Precipitation

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Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to Earth's surface.

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Example: This image shows water falling from a cloud in different forms, like liquid rain and solid snow, which are all types of precipitation.

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Convection Cell Noun

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[kon-vek-shun sel]

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Convection Cell

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A large-scale pattern of air circulation in the atmosphere created by the rising of warm air and sinking of cool air.

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Example: The sun heats the land, causing warm air to move out to sea while cooler sea air moves inland, forming a circular convection cell.

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Prevailing Winds Noun

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[pri-vay-ling windz]

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Prevailing Winds

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Winds that blow predominantly from a single general direction over a particular point on the Earth's surface.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth's main prevailing winds, like the Westerlies and Trade Winds, which are large-scale winds that blow in a consistent direction.

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Troposphere Noun

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[troh-puh-sfeer]

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Troposphere

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The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where nearly all weather conditions take place and temperature generally decreases with altitude.

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Example: This diagram shows the Troposphere as the lowest layer of the atmosphere, where we live and where airplanes fly, located just above the Earth's surface.

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Glacier Noun

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[glay-sher]

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Glacier

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A large, persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight, influencing local and regional climates.

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Example: This image shows a glacier, a vast, slow-moving river of ice, as it meets the ocean and breaks off into smaller icebergs.