Climate Vocabulary

Weather is short term conditions of the atmosphere in an area and climate is the long term weather pattern for an area.

Currents are patterns of movement of air or water. The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that moves water from the equator into the Gulf of Mexico, along the east coast US, and over to Europe, bringing warmer temperatures.

Convection is the movement of air or water due to changes in density. Dense air and water sinks and warm air and water rise. Thermohaline Circulation is caused by convection caused by cold surface water in Arctic sinking and pushing warmer water to surface.

Mixing of deep ocean water with surface water bringing needed nutrients to surface.

Short term changes to the earth's climate due to shifting of wind and surface currents in pacific. These phenomena cause changes to wind and rain patterns across the globe.

A change to the long term weather patterns around the world.