Chapter 3 Section 2

1. Chapter 3 Section 2 Factors Affecting Climate

2. Key Terms • Prevailing Winds • Coriolis effect • Doldrums • Current • El Nino • Windward • Leeward • Rain shadow

3. Prevailing Winds and Coriolis Effect • Prevailing Winds- wind in a region that blows in a fairly constant directional pattern. • Coriolis effect- An effect that causes the prevailing winds to blow diagonally rather than along strict north-south or east-west lines.

4. Doldrums and Current • Doldrums- a frequently windless area near the Equator. • Current- cold or warm stream of seawater that flows in the oceans, generally in a circular pattern.

6. El Nino • El Nino- a periodic reversal of the pattern of ocean currents and water temperatures in the mid-Pacific region.

8. Windward and Leeward • Windward- facing toward the direction from which the wind is blowing. • Leeward- facing away from the direction from which the wind is blowing.

9. Rain Shadow • Rain Shadow- dry area found on the leeward side of a mountain range.

10. Arctic and Antarctic Circles