Essential!
Vocabulary!
and!Questions!
Title:!!
Key!Information,!
Models!and!
Definitions!
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What!determines!climate?!
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Weather0!!condition!of!Earth’s!atmosphere!at!a!particular!time!!
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Climate!–!!describes!weather!conditions!over!a!long!period!of!time!
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*****!CLIMATE!IS!DETERMINED!BY!TEMPERATURE!AND!
PRECIPITATION*****!
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What!factors!affect!temperature!and!precipitation?!
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Latitude!!
9!angular!distance!in!degrees!north!or!south!away!from!the!equator.!
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***The!amount!of!solar!energy!a!place!receives!changes!the!way!that!water!
and!heat!is!cycled!through!the!atmosphere***!
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Elevation!!
9!the!height!of!an!area!above!sea!level!
***!Temperature!changes!when!elevation!changes.***!
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Topography!!
9!surface!features!of!an!area!
***Influences!wind!patterns!(changing!where!precipitation!falls).***!
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Locations!near!Large!Bodies!of!Water!
0!water!absorbs!and!releases!energy!as!heat!more!slowly!than!land!does!
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***!allows!for!moderate!temperatures!for!land!near!by***!
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Nearness!to!Surface!Ocean!Currents!
0 surface!ocean!currents!are!driven!by!winds!
0 surface!ocean!currents!carry!warm!water!away!from!the!equator!
and!cool!water!away!from!the!poles!
0 cool!water!cools!air,!warm!water!warms!air!
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***The!Gulf!Stream!!9!an!surface!ocean!current!that!moves!warm!water!
from!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!up!to!Great!Britain,!giving!it!a!mild!climate.!
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Summary:!
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