Vocabulary Earth and Globe Skills

Rotation The earth’s movement around its axis- one is completed every 24 hours

Revolution The earth’s movement around the sun- one is completed every 365 and ¼ days

Equator The Horizontal Line that divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres, 0 degrees latitude

Latitude A series of horizontal lines used to measure the distance north and south of the equator also called a Parallel

Prime Meridian A Vertical Line that divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres, 0 degrees longitude

Longitude A series of vertical lines used to measure the distance east or west of the prime meridian also called Meridians

Time Zone 24 Areas of the earth measured in segments of 15 degrees longitude Each of these areas represents a different hour of the day

Weather The typical temperature and precipitation for a place over the course of one day

Climate The typical temperature and precipitation for a place over the course of one year

Natural Vegetation The typical plant life that grows naturally in a climate zone

Precipitation Any form of water that falls from the sky

Equinox Twice a year when the sun is directly over the equator (Autumn and Spring)

Solstice Twice a year when the sun is directly over one of the two tropics Winter and Summer

International Dateline Line where one day turns into the next, 180 degrees longitude

Stationary Front The boundary between two different air masses, neither strong enough to replace the other

Occluded Front The boundary that occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front

High Pressure Formed when cooler air sinks and usually means dry air and clear skies

Low Pressure Formed from warm air that is rising and usually means cloudy weather and precipitation

Leap Year A year containing an extra day in order to make up for ¼ of a day in the earth’s revolution