Definition of Climatology

The scientific study of climates, including the causes and long-term effects of variation in regional and global climates. Climatology also studies how climate changes over time and is affected by human actions.

Resources: The American Heritage® Science Dictionary.

Solar System Planets

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The solar system consists of the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, moons, comets, asteroids, meteoroids, dust, atomic particles, electromagnetic radiation, and magnetic fields. Each component of the solar system has its own specific properties.

The Sun is a star that produces light and heat energy for the solar system through thermonuclear reactions in its interior.

The order of the eight larger planets, starting nearest the sun and working outward through the solar system: Mercury,Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Planets can be rocky (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) or gaseous (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).All planets except Mercury and Venus have one or more known natural satellites (moons). The gas planets also have ring systems.Dwarf planets can be rocky or icy or a combination of both. (In a highly controversial decision, the International Astronomical Union ultimately decided in 2006 to call Pluto a “dwarf planet”).

Resources: Space.com & BioEd Online Science Teacher Resources from Baylor College of Medicine.