Climate and Environmental Science

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What is climate?

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The long-term pattern of weather over time for a particular area, including temperature and precipitation - rain, snow, sleet or hail.

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What is a climate zone?

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Regions of the earth that are classified into either polar, temperate or tropical according to weather.

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Who is a climatologist?

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A scientist who studies long-term weather patterns.

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What is weather?

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The day-to-day conditions of an area, including the temperature, wind direction and speed, air pressure, relative humidity, and precipitation.

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What is conduction?

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Transfer of heat between two objects in direct contact with each other.

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What is convection?

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The transfer of heat by the circulation or movement of the heated parts of a liquid or gas.

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What is radiation?

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Energy in motion, either as waves or particles, that can interact with matter and transfer energy.

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What is global warming?

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An increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the earth that is capable of causing a change in climate.

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What is the greenhouse effect?

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The process in which the absorption of short wave radiation by the atmosphere heats up a planet.

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What are greenhouse gases?

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Atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, including water vapor, nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide, which is the most abundant.