Climate, Weather, and Geography

Snow crystals form from water vapor directly into solid ice crystals, not by freezing liquid rain drops (which creates sleet).

Heavy snowfall requires both moisture in the atmosphere and temperatures cold enough to allow the moisture to freeze into snow.

The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth that is held in place by gravity.

The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

In 1921, Silver Lake, Colorado, recorded a snowfall of 75.8 inches within a 24-hour period. This remains a significant record for snowfall accumulation.

The southern hemisphere grasslands have a mild climate (moderate) due to the influence of the Indian Ocean. Winters are cold and dry. Temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C and July is the coldest month. Summers are short and warm.

The grasslands of Northern hemisphere are located in the heart of a North America continent, so the climate is a continental type with extreme temperatures.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by winter rainfall, which is influenced by the movement of westerly winds and associated cyclonic systems.

Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. This distinct seasonal pattern is caused by shifting pressure belts and westerly winds. Options A and D incorrectly state cool summers, while B incorrectly states dry winters.

During summer, regions of Mediterranean climate are strongly influenced by cold ocean currents which keep the weather in the region dry, stable, and pleasant. In winter, however, they are no longer influenced by the cold ocean currents and therefore warmer water settles near land and causes clouds to form and rainfall becomes much more likely.

In the process of condensation very small water droplets from the atmospheric air come together and form clouds. The heavier the rain drops gets bigger the cloud gets.

Evaporation: The sun evaporates some amount of water from different sources. Evaporation prepares the cycle for the next step, that is condensation. 
Condensation: The water vapour then condensed into clouds. These clouds further go to Precipitation. 
Precipitation: When the droplets in the clouds get too big they fall as rain, hail, snow, and sleet.

The equatorial climate is characterized by high temperatures and rainfall throughout the year, which is a type of tropical climate.

Due to the cold, the upper soil surface of the tundra region is frozen into a rock-like state all through the year. This is called permafrost. It comprises 24% of land in Northern Hemisphere. A massive amount of carbon is found in permafrost. Structurally, permafrost is important. Erosion, disappearance of lakes, landslides, and ground subsidence is caused by the melting of permafrost. It also causes changes in composition of plant species at high altitudes.