1. The day on which the sun’s rays shine directly overhead at noon at either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. Marks the beginning of winter and summer. Solstice

2. The biannual times when the days and nights all over the world are equal in length; marks the beginning of spring and autumn. Equinox

3. Type of precipitation that occurs in hot, moist climates as a result of heated, rising air. Convection precipitation

4. Type of precipitation that occurs where hills or mountains block moist air and force it to rise. Orographic precipitation

5. Type of precipitation that occurs in mid-latitudes, where cold fronts push up warm fronts. Frontal precipitation

6. Natural event that occurs when an accumulation of melted snow and/or rain exceeds the land’s absorption capacity. Flood

7. The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time. weather

8. The typical weather conditions at a particular location observed over time. climate

9. Falling water droplets in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail. precipitation

10. The land on the leeward side of hills or mountains that gets little rain from the descending dry air. Rain shadow

11. A storm that forms over warm, tropical ocean waters in the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific. hurricane

12. A tropical storm, like a hurricane, that occurs in the western Pacific. typhoon

13. A powerful funnel- shaped storm made from a column of spiraling air. tornado

14. A heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour and reduced visibility of less than one- quarter mile. blizzard

15. A long period without rain or with very minimal rainfall. drought

16. What four factors influence the climate of a region? Ocean currents, latitude, altitude, and topography

17. The continuous circulation of water among the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth. Hydrologic cycle or water cycle

18. An area drained by a major river and its tributaries. Drainage basin

19. The water held under the earth’s surface, often in and around the pores of rocks. Ground water

20. The level at which rock is saturated. Water table

21. A naturally formed feature on the surface of the earth. landform

22. The earth’s surface from the edge of a continent to the deep part of the ocean. Continental shelf

23. The difference in elevation of a landform from the lowest point to the highest point. relief

24. The combined characteristics of landforms and their distribution in a region. topography

25. What are the two major factors that define climates? Precipitation and temperature

26. Besides precipitation and temperature, what other factors influence climate? Location on continent, topography and altitude

27. What are the five general climate regions? Tropical, dry, high-latitude, mid-latitude, and highland

28. Climate region that is always hot, and has rain fall daily. Tropical wet

29. Climate region that has rainy, warm summers and dry, cool winters Tropic wet and dry

30. Climate region that has hot, humid summers and mild winters. Humid subtropical

31. Climate region that has four seasons and a great variety of in temperature and precipitation. Humid continental

32. The flat treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean; the climate region of the Arctic Ocean. tundra

33. Permanently frozen ground. permafrost

34. What factors determine what vegetation can grow in a region? Depth, texture, and humus content of soil

35. Besides soil, what other factor determines the vegetation in a region? climate

36. What are the four main types of biomes? Forest, grassland, desert, and tundra

37. An interdependent community of plants and animals. ecosystem

38. A regional ecosystem. biome

39. Another name for broadleaf trees, such as oak, maple, birch, and cottonwood. Deciduous trees

40. A forest region located in the Tropical Zone with a heavy concentration of different species of broadleaf trees. Rain forest

41. Another name for needleleaf trees. Coniferous trees

42. Term for the flat, grassy, mostly treeless plains in the tropical grassland region. savanna

43. Term used for the temperate grassland region in the Northern Hemisphere. steppe