The condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place
Weather
The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
Climate
Streams of ocean water that are propelled by prevailing winds and earth rotation
Ocean Currents
the movement of deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water to the surface
Upwelling
a periodic ocean anomoly caused by upper atmosphere changes in the Southern Hemisphere that weaken or reverse the trade winds and cause warm water to move eastward across the Pacific basin
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The cool phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation; a periodic occurence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surfacewater temperature becomes unusually cool
La Nina
climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate of the surrounding area
Microclimate
Precipitation falls on the windward side of a mountain range, resulting in lush vegetation & a warm, moist climate on one side, but a desert area on the leeward side
Rain Shadow effect
a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities
Biome
biome made up of grassland with scattered trees and bushes
Savanna
biome with long cold winters and a few months of warm weather; dominated by coniferous evergreens; also called boreal forest
Taiga
usually areas around the equator, characterized by warm and humid weather
Tropical
Moderate climate
Temperate
Cold Climate
Polar
shows the average temperatures and precipitation in a place
Climate Graph
biome characterized by low moisture levels and infrequent and unpredictable precipitation. Daily and seasonal temperatures fluctuate widely
Desert
biome composed of large communities covered with grasses and similar small plants
Grassland
a large area thickly covered with trees and plants
Forest
Treeless arctic or alpine biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, a short growing season, and potential for frost any month of the year; vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses and lichens
Tundra
A broad band of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees that stretches across northern North America (and also Europe and Asia); its northernmost edfe, the taiga, intergrades with the artic tundra
Boreal Forest
type of vegetation made up of dense forests of shrubs and short trees, common in mediterranean climates
Chaparral
