Climate Topic
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Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Select Text Level: 3rd Grade 6th Grade 8th Grade 12th Grade
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Climate influences the vegetation of a region. Photograph by Paul Nicklen, National Geographic Climograph A climograph depicts the highs and lows of temperature and precipitation over a set period of time. Climographs can summarize daily, monthly, yearly, or decades-long weather patterns to help climatologists identify a regions climate. Did the Language You Speak Evolve Due to Heat? Some research indicates that the concentration of a languages vowels and consonants may be due in some part to the climate of the languages region. Vowel-heavy languages, such as Hawaiian, may have been influenced by pockets of warm air that can punch into a sound wave, making it harder to distinguish consonants such as k and ch. Geographic Perspective British geographer Andrew John Herbertson described climate like this: "Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get." The Big Chill abundance Noun large amount. adapt Verb to adjust to new surroundings or a new situation. adjust Verb to change or modify something to fit with something else. agriculture Noun the art and science of cultivating land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching). ambient Adjective having to do with the surrounding area or environment. Anasazi Noun (1200 BCE-1300 CE) people and culture native to what is now the southwestern United States. Also called Ancestral Puebloans. ancient Adjective very old. ancient Rome Noun civilization founded on the Mediterranean Sea, lasting from the 8th century BCE to about 476 CE. Arctic Noun region at Earth's extreme north, encompassed by the Arctic Circle. arid Adjective dry. arid climate Noun (dry climate) region that receives 10 to 30 centimeters (4-12 inches) of rain each year. asphalt Noun chemical compound made of dark, solid rocks and minerals often used in paving roads. atmosphere Noun layers of gases surrounding a planet or other celestial body. atmospheric pressure Noun force per unit area exerted by the mass of the atmosphere as gravity pulls it to Earth. axis Noun an invisible line around which an object spins. basin Noun a dip or depression in the surface of the land or ocean floor. biodiversity Noun all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area. biosphere Noun part of the Earth where life exists. boreal climate Adjective region that experiences long, cold winters with very little precipitation. Also called a subarctic or tundra climate. boreal climate Adjective region that experiences long, cold winters with very little precipitation. Also called a subarctic or tundra climate. burrow Noun small hole or tunnel used for shelter. canal Noun artificial waterway. carbon sink Noun area or ecosystem that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases. civilization Noun complex way of life that developed as humans began to develop urban settlements. classify Verb to identify or arrange by specific type or characteristic. cliff Noun steep wall of rock, earth, or ice. climate Noun all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time. climate change Noun gradual changes in all the interconnected weather elements on our planet. climate group Noun one of five classifications of the Earth's climates: tropical, dry, mild, continental, and polar. climate refugee Noun person forced to leave his or her home and community because of climate change. climate type Noun division within a climate group. climatologist Noun person who studies long-term patterns in weather. cloud cover Noun amount of sky covered with clouds. complex Adjective complicated. coniferous forest Noun land covered by trees with thin needles instead of flat leaves. continent Noun one of the seven main land masses on Earth. continental climate Noun climate group that experiences extreme seasonal change. Continental climates are only found in the Northern Hemisphere. cool summer climate Noun region that experience cool summers and snowy winters. crop Noun agricultural produce. cryosphere Noun icy part of the Earth's waterincluding icebergs, glaciers, and ice caps. cultivate Verb to encourage the growth of something through work and attention. culture Noun learned behavior of people, including their languages, belief systems, social structures, institutions, and material goods. dam Noun structure built across a river or other waterway to control the flow of water. data Plural Noun (singular: datum) information collected during a scientific study. delicate Adjective fragile or easily damaged. desert Noun area of land that receives no more than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation a year. drizzle Noun very light rain. drought Noun period of greatly reduced precipitation. drought Noun period of greatly reduced precipitation. dry Adjective arid or lacking in moisture. dry season Noun time of year with little precipitation. durable Adjective strong and long-lasting. ecosystem Noun community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area. efficient Adjective performing a task with skill and minimal waste. elevation Noun height above or below sea level. emission Noun discharge or release. enormous Adjective very large. Equator Noun imaginary line around the Earth, another planet, or star running east-west, 0 degrees latitude. erosion Noun act in which earth is worn away, often by water, wind, or ice. eruption Noun release of material from an opening in the Earth's crust. evaporation Noun process by which liquid water becomes water vapor. evapotranspiration Noun loss of water from the Earth's soil by evaporation into the atmosphere and transpiration by plants. farming Noun the art, science, and business of cultivating the land for growing crops. flood Verb to overflow or cover in water or another liquid. flourish Verb to thrive or be successful. fog Noun clouds at ground level. forest Noun ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush. fossil fuel Noun coal, oil, or natural gas. Fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. freshwater Adjective having to do with a habitat or ecosystem of a lake, river, or spring. frigid Adjective very cold. gas Noun state of matter with no fixed shape that will fill any container uniformly. Gas molecules are in constant, random motion. geographer Noun person who studies places and the relationships between people and their environments. geologic Adjective having to do with the physical formations of the Earth. glacial period Noun time of long-term lowering of temperatures on Earth. Also known as an ice age. glacier Noun mass of ice that moves slowly over land. global warming Noun increase in the average temperature of the Earth's air and oceans. grassland Noun ecosystem with large, flat areas of grasses. Great Lakes Noun largest freshwater bodies in the world, located in the United States and Canada. Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Superior make up the Great Lakes. greenhouse effect Noun phenomenon where gases allow sunlight to enter Earth's atmosphere but make it difficult for heat to escape. greenhouse gas Noun gas in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and ozone, that absorbs solar heat reflected by the surface of the Earth, warming the atmosphere. growing season Noun period in the year when crops and other plants grow rapidly. harvest Noun the gathering and collection of crops, including both plants and animals. herding Noun practice of caring for roaming groups of livestock over a large area. heritage Noun cultural or family background. high-elevation climate Noun climate group found in mountains and plateaus. humid continental Noun (continental climate) region that experiences cold winters and warm, wet summers. Also called a warm summer climate. humidity Noun amount of water vapor in the air. humid subtropical climate Noun region that experiences cool winters and hot humid summers. hurricane Noun tropical storm with wind speeds of at least 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour. Hurricanes are the same thing as typhoons, but usually located in the Atlantic Ocean region. hydrosphere Noun all the Earth's water in the ground, on the surface, and in the air. iceberg Noun large chunks of ice that break off from glaciers and float in the ocean. ice cap climate Noun region where temperatures rarely rise above freezing. ice sheet Noun thick layer of glacial ice that covers a large area of land. ice shelf Noun mass of ice that floats on the ocean but remains attached to the coast. inconvenience Verb to disturb or bother. indigenous Adjective characteristic to or of a specific place. Industrial Revolution Noun change in economic and social activities, beginning in the 18th century, brought by the replacement of hand tools with machinery and mass production. influence Verb to encourage or persuade a person or organization to act a certain way. insulate Verb to cover with material to prevent the escape of energy (such as heat) or sound. interaction Noun relationship between two or more forces, objects, or organisms. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) Noun belt of low-pressure air currents that circle the Earth at the Equator. Also known as the Monsoon Zone. lake effect Noun process where cold winds blowing over a relatively warm lake cause rapid cloud formation and precipitation. land cover Noun physical material at the very top surface of the Earth, such as grass. landscape Noun the geographic features of a region. latitude Noun distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees. lattice Noun strips of wood or other material assembled in a crisscross pattern. Little Ice Age Noun (~1600-~1850) period of cooling climate (~1° Celsius), documented largely in the Northern Hemisphere. livestock Noun animals raised forhuman use. marine Adjective having to do with the ocean. marine mammal Noun an animal that lives most of its life in the ocean but breathes air and gives birth to live young, such as whales and seals. marine west coast climate Noun (mild climate) region that experiences rain and long, cool winters. medicine Noun substance used for treating illness or disease. Mediterranean climate Noun (mild climate) region that experiences mild winters and warm summers. megathermal Adjective climate pattern characterized by high temperatures and abundant moisture. Mesopotamia Noun ancient region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, today lying mostly in Iraq. mesothermal Adjective climate characterized by a moderate amount of heat. microclimate Noun small area where the climate differs within a larger climate region, such as "heat islands" in a city. microscopic Adjective very small. microthermal Adjective climate characterized by cold winters. migrate Verb to move from one place or activity to another. mild climate Noun climate group that experiences seasonal temperature changes. Also called a temperate climate. mitigate Verb to lower the severity of a natural or human condition. moisture index Noun method for monitoring soils water budget, based on the concept of potential evapotranspiration. monsoon Noun seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds of a region. Monsoon usually refers to the winds of the Indian Ocean and South Asia, which often bring heavy rains. mound Noun hill built by people. navigate Verb to plan and direct the course of a journey. Northwest Passage Noun waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. nutrient Noun substance an organism needs for energy, growth, and life. ocean basin Noun depression in the Earth's surface located entirely beneath the ocean. Outback Noun remote, sparsely populated interior region of Australia. paleoclimatology Noun study of the atmosphere of prehistoric Earth. Pampas Noun flat grasslands of South America. parka Noun hip-length, waterproof winter coat with a hood. pendulum Noun object suspended from a point, able to swing back and forth. periodic Adjective occasional. permafrost Noun permanently frozen layer of the Earth's surface. phenomena Plural Noun (singular: phenomenon) any observable occurrence or feature. photosynthesis Noun process by which plants turn water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into water, oxygen, and simple sugars. plateau Noun large region that is higher than the surrounding area and relatively flat. polar Adjective having to do with the North and/or South Pole. polar climate Noun climate group found within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. pole Noun extreme north or south point of the Earth's axis. Polynesia Noun island group in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand, Hawaii, and Easter Island. portable Adjective able to be easily transported from one place to another. potential evapotranspiration Noun amount of water evaporated from an area of continuous, uniform vegetation that covers the whole ground and that is well supplied with water. precipitation Noun all forms in which water falls to Earth from the atmosphere. predictable Adjective regular or able to be forecasted. prolong Verb to extend the duration of something. proximity Noun nearness. rainforest Noun area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall. rain shadow Noun dry land on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds. rainy season Noun time of year when most of the rain in a region falls. region Noun any area on Earth with one or more common characteristics. Regions are the basic units of geography. renewable energy Noun energy obtained from sources that are virtually inexhaustible and replenish naturally over small time scales relative to the human life span. retreat Verb to go back to a familiar or safe place. rigorous Adjective demanding, disciplined, or harsh. salinity Noun saltiness. sand Noun small, loose grains of disintegrated rocks. savanna Noun type of tropical grassland with scattered trees. Scandinavia Noun region and name for some countries in Northern Europe: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. scarce Adjective rare. sea level rise Noun increase in the average reach of the ocean. The current sea level rise is 1.8 millimeters (.07 inch) per year. seasonal Adjective likely to change with the seasons. seawater Noun salty water from an ocean or sea. semiarid climate Noun (dry climate) region that receives between 25 and 50 centimeters (10-20 inches) of rainfall every year. semi-nomadic Adjective people or communities who follow their food source for long periods of time, but can also live settled lives. Siberia Noun region of land stretching across Russia from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. soil Noun top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow. solar radiation Noun light and heat from the sun. species range Noun native, geographic area in which an organism can be found. Range also refers to the geographic distribution of a particular species. spectacular Adjective dramatic and impressive. steppe Noun dry, flat grassland with no trees and a cool climate. subarctic climate Noun region that experiences long, cold winters with very little precipitation. Also called a boreal or tundra climate. taiga Noun evergreen forest in cool, northern latitudes. Also called boreal forest. tapa cloth Noun lightweight cloth made by pounding the bark of the paper mulberry tree. technique Noun method of doing something. tectonic plate Noun massive slab of solid rock made up of Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper mantle). Also called lithospheric plate. temperate Adjective moderate. temperature Noun degree of hotness or coldness measured by a thermometer with a numerical scale. temperature Noun degree of hotness or coldness measured by a thermometer with a numerical scale. thermal conductivity Noun measure of the ability of a material to transfer heat. thermohaline circulation Noun ocean conveyor belt system in which water moves between the cold depths and warm surface in oceans throughout the world. thunderstorm Noun cloud that produces thunder and lightning, often accompanied by heavy rains. topography Noun study of the shape of the surface features of an area. topography Noun study of the shape of the surface features of an area. tornado Noun a violently rotating column of air that forms at the bottom of a cloud and touches the ground. trade wind Noun winds that blow toward the Equator, from northeast to southwest in the Northern Hemisphere and from southeast to northwest in the Southern Hemisphere. transition zone Noun area between two natural or artificial regions. treacherous Adjective very dangerous. tropical climate Noun climate group that experiences hot, wet summers. tropical monsoon climate Noun region that experiences the monsoon winds, which bring heavy rain. tropical wet and dry climate Noun region that experiences three seasons: cool, hot, and wet. tropical wet climate Noun region that experiences hot temperatures and heavy rainfall all year. Also called a rain forest climate. tropics Plural Noun region generally located between the Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2 degrees north of the Equator) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23 1/2 degrees south of the Equator). tundra climate Noun region that experiences short summers and long winters. typhoon Noun tropical storm with wind speeds of at least 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour. Typhoons are the same thing as hurricanes, but usually located in the Pacific or Indian Ocean region. uniform Adjective exactly the same in some way. unprecedented Adjective never before known or experienced. upland climate Noun (high-elevation climate) region found on and around large plateaus. urban area Noun developed, densely populated area where most inhabitants have nonagricultural jobs. urban heat island Noun city area that is always warmer than the surrounding area. variation Noun difference. vegetation Noun all the plant life of a specific place. volcanic ash Noun fragments of lava less than 2 millimeters across. volcano Noun an opening in the Earth's crust, through which lava, ash, and gases erupt, and also the cone built by eruptions. warm summer climate Noun region that experiences cool winters and warm, wet summers. Also called a humid continental climate. water budget Noun budget of the incoming and outgoing water from a region, including rainfall, evaporation, runoff, and seepage; often used to estimate evapotranspiration. weather Noun state of the atmosphere, including temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness. weather pattern Noun repeating or predictable changes in the Earth's atmosphere, such as winds, precipitation, and temperatures. weather system Noun movement of warm or cold air. wind Noun movement of air (from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone) caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun. yurt Noun portable circular dwelling made of a criss-crossed wooden frame covered in felt and popular in Central Asia. Articles & Profiles
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