the measurement of the height of a geographical feature that is above mean sea level (MSL)

The side of a mountain range that faces away from the oncoming wind

being in or facing the direction from which the wind is blowing

An imaginary line that passes through Earth's center and the North and South poles, about which Earth rotates

An imaginary circle around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole

distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

The path an object follows as it moves around another object

The movement of an object around another object

circular movement around an axis

The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place.

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

Climate that is warm most of the year with less average precipitation than tropical areas.

Divides the globe into halves

areas characterized by high (hot) temperatures and high precipitation

Climate zones with moderate (warm) temperatures that are located between the tropics and the polar zones.

areas close to the North and South Pole that have long, cold winters and are covered by ice most of the year

two times each year when Earth's axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the sun, causing the sun's rays angle directly at the equator

two times each year when Earth's axis is tilted either towards or away from the sun, causing the sun's rays to angle away from the equator

The amount of one material in a certain volume of another material

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

The angle at which incoming light rays approach a surface.

incoming solar radiation or the amount of solar radiation received at the Earth's surface

the vertical distance between an object and the earth's surface

the degree of compactness of a substance.