GEOGRAPHY UNIT 3 VOCABULARY Flashcards
(76 cards)
Climate
The long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation in a particular region.
Precipitation
Any form of water that falls from the Earth’s atmosphere to the surface.
Weather
The atmospheric conditions and short-term variations in a specific location at a particular point in time.
Air masses
Large bodies of air with relatively uniform temperature, humidity and pressure as defined by their source regions.
Ocean circulation
The large-scale movement of water within the Earth’s oceans, which distributes heat.
Monsoon
A seasonal wind pattern that brings a distinct change in weather conditions, particularly in terms of precipitation.
Front
The boundary between two air masses with different characteristics.
Orographic Rainfall
Occurs when moist air is lifted as it encounters a mountain.
Convectional Rainfall
A type of precipitation that occurs as a result of convective - or heat release - activity in the atmosphere.
Frontal Rainfall
A type of rainfall that occurs when two air masses with different temperatures and moisture content meet along a front.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
A belt of low pressure that encircles the Earth near the equator.
Polar front jet stream
A fast-flowing, narrow air current in the lower atmosphere.
Rossby Waves
Large-scale waves that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere
Mid-latitude depressions
A weather system characterised by a low-pressure centre with anti-clockwise circulation in the northern hemisphere and clockwise rotation in the southern hemisphere. It brings varied weather, including precipitation and storms.
Dissipation
The gradual weakening or decay of a weather system.
Occluded front
A weather boundary where a faster-moving cold front overtakes a slower-moving warm front, lifting the warm air.
Anticyclone
A high-pressure area generally leading to fair-weather conditions
Tropical Cyclone
A powerful, rotating storm system with a low-pressure centre, strong winds and heavy rain. It forms over warm ocean waters and can intensify to create a significant natural hazard.
Storm surges
A rapid and significant rise in sea level during a storm, particularly a tropical cyclone, causing coastal flooding.
Biodiversity
It encompasses the diversity of species, genetic diversity within species and ecosystems.
Ecosystem
A complex and interconnected community of living organisms, theri physical environment and the ecological processes that sustain life.
Ecoystem Diversity
The varietyof ecosystems within a particular geographic area, contributing to the overall biodiversity of a region.
Genetic Diversity
The variety of genes within a population or species. It includes the potential for adaptation to environmental changes, contributing to biodiversity.
Nutrient Cycling
The process in which essential elements like carbon move through living organisms, the soil and the atmosphere. This maintains a balanced and sustainable flow within ecosystems.