1. Climate Vocabulary
Terms you need to know!

2. Classifies climates with temperature, precipitation and wind patterns
Koeppen System
Classifies climates with temperature, precipitation and wind patterns

3. Maunder Minimum
A period of low sunspot activity & unusually cold temperatures

4. Burning of Fossil Fuels
Releases carbon dioxide
CO2

5. Climate
Variations in temperature, precipitation, and wind

6. Latitude & Climate
Similar Latitudes may have different climates due to large bodies of water that are close by

7. Orographic Lifting
Air rises, cools, condenses, rains, and warms as it descends a mountain

8. Global Warming
An increase in Earth’s surface temperatures partly caused by human actions

9. Acid Precipitation
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (SO2 NOx) combine with atmospheric moisture

10. Drought
Extended periods of below normal rainfall

11. Wind-Chill
Effects of cold air are worsened by the wind

12. CFC’s
Chloroflurocarbons come from aerosols and can destroy the ozone

13. Seasons
Short-term periods of climate change with variations in daylight and temperatures

14. Ice Ages
A time when Earth’s surface was covered by vast ice sheets

15. Climatology
Long-term variations in temperature, precipitation and wind patterns

16. Heat Islands
City climates are warmer than nearby rural areas

17. El Nino
A warm ocean current of the coast of South America begins many climate
change events

18. Associated with constant high temperatures
Tropical Climates
Associated with constant high temperatures

19. Polar Zones
Known for constant cold and low precipitation

20. A natural phenomenon where Earth’s atmosphere traps heat
Greenhouse Effect
A natural phenomenon where Earth’s atmosphere traps heat

21. CFC’s in aerosols destroy stratospheric ozone in the 1970’s
Ozone Depletion
CFC’s in aerosols destroy stratospheric ozone in the 1970’s

22. Also called a Temperate Zone.
Continental Climates
Also called a Temperate Zone.
Have both summer and winter temperature extremes.