Climate Change

The Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees, causing different hemispheres to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

The two points in Earth's orbit where the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator, resulting in the longest and shortest days of the year.

The two points in Earth's orbit where the sun is directly above the equator, resulting in equal day and night hours.

An extra day added to the calendar every four years to keep the seasons aligned with the Earth's orbit.

The hemisphere tilted towards the sun experiences summer, with longer days and more direct sunlight.

The Earth's spin axis is tilted at a 23.5 degrees angle relative to the ecliptic plane. The ecliptic plane is the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun.

The line that marks the furthest point from the equator where the sun's rays are directly overhead at noon on the summer solstice.

The line that marks the furthest point from the equator where the sun's rays are directly overhead at noon on the winter solstice.

The day with the longest hours of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring around June 21st.

The day with the shortest hours of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring around December 21st.

The imaginary circle that marks the furthest point north where the sun is visible at the summer solstice.

The imaginary circle that marks the furthest point south where the sun is visible at the summer solstice.

The amount of time between sunrise and sunset.

The angle at which the sun's rays hit the Earth's surface. This angle affects the intensity of sunlight and how much heat is absorbed.

Air pressure decreases with altitude because the density of air molecules decreases as you move higher in the atmosphere.

Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. This is due to the difference in the density of air molecules.

The transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves. The sun's energy reaches Earth through radiation.

The transfer of heat energy through the direct contact of molecules. Metals are good conductors of heat.

The transfer of heat energy through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). Warm air rises and cool air sinks, creating convection currents.

Convection is a method of heat transfer that relies on the movement of fluids (liquids and gases). It involves the rising of warmer, less dense fluids and the sinking of cooler, denser fluids.

Convection currents in the Earth's mantle are driven by the heat from the Earth's core. Hot, less dense magma rises, while cooler, denser magma sinks, creating a cycle that drives plate tectonics.

Convection currents in the atmosphere are driven by the uneven heating of Earth's surface by the sun. Warm air rises, cools, and sinks, creating wind patterns.

Clouds can act as a blanket, trapping heat and keeping the Earth warmer at night. During the day, clouds reflect sunlight back into space, making the Earth cooler.

The hydrologic cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. It involves processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

The summer monsoon is a seasonal wind pattern characterized by strong winds blowing from the ocean to the land, bringing heavy rainfall. It occurs when the land heats up faster than the ocean, creating a pressure difference.

The process by which ocean currents move heat from the equator towards the poles. It's a significant aspect of the Earth's climate system.

The property of water that requires a large amount of energy to change its temperature. This helps regulate the Earth's climate.

The deflection of moving objects, including ocean currents, due to the Earth's rotation. It causes currents to curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

A strong, warm ocean current that flows northward along the eastern coast of North America, bringing warm water to higher latitudes.

Deep ocean circulation driven by differences in temperature and salinity, which affect the density of water. It plays a crucial role in global climate regulation.

Melting glaciers add freshwater to the ocean, diluting the salinity. This slows down thermohaline circulation, potentially affecting global climate patterns.

The ability of a surface to reflect sunlight. Surfaces with high albedo reflect more light, while those with low albedo absorb more.

Ice and snow have a high albedo, reflecting a significant portion of solar radiation back into space. This helps regulate Earth's temperature.

The transfer of heat through the movement of fluids like liquids and gases. This process is crucial for understanding how heat is distributed in the atmosphere and ocean.

The process of heat transfer through direct contact between substances. Metals are excellent conductors, while air is a poor conductor.

The transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic radiation. The Earth is heated by the sun's radiation. Various substances on Earth then absorb this energy and release it as heat.

The force exerted by the weight of air molecules. It decreases as altitude increases because the air becomes less dense.

Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. This is a fundamental principle in understanding wind and other atmospheric phenomena.

Air in the atmosphere acts as a fluid, where warmer, less dense air rises, and cooler, denser air sinks, creating convection currents.

Boiling water demonstrates convection. As the water at the bottom of the pot heats up, it expands, becomes less dense, and rises. The cooler, denser water at the top sinks, creating a cycle of rising and sinking water.

Ocean surfaces absorb most of the sun's energy in the top 100 meters, creating warmer, less dense surface water.

Driven by solar energy, unequal heating of the Earth creates global wind patterns, which in turn drive ocean currents.

The Earth's rotation causes moving water to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

A narrow, fast-moving warm current in the Atlantic Ocean that brings warm water towards Europe.

The deep ocean circulation driven by differences in water temperature and salinity (saltiness), which influence water density. Denser water sinks, less dense water rises.

Ice, with its high reflectivity (albedo), reflects a significant portion of incoming solar radiation back into space. This helps cool the planet.