Climate Vocabulary Terms you need to know!

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

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

Burning of Fossil Fuels Releases carbon dioxide CO2

Climate Variations in temperature, precipitation, and wind

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

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

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

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

Drought Extended periods of below normal rainfall

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

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

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

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

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

Heat Islands City climates are warmer than nearby rural areas

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

Associated with constant high temperatures Tropical Climates Associated with constant high temperatures

Polar Zones Known for constant cold and low precipitation

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

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

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