Concepts

Meteorological events that are rare for a particular place or time of year and can have major ecological impacts

Maximum temperature of warmest month, capturing seasonality in contrast to average annual temperatures

Atmospheric turbulence generated by airflow over mountainous terrain leading to enhanced mixing and modified precipitation processes

Large-scale atmospheric weather patterns that influence regional temperature and precipitation distributions

How changing weather patterns and climate conditions influence animal behavioral strategies

Process of using large-scale climate model outputs to generate local or regional scale climate projections

Effects of climate variables on organism fitness that operate through changes in resource availability rather than direct physiological impacts

Measure of cloud opacity to solar radiation, related to cloud droplet concentration and size distribution

Classification of cloud particles as liquid water droplets, ice crystals, or mixed phase

Spectral band ratio that leverages the fact that snow reflectance is high in visible wavelengths and low in shortwave infrared wavelengths

Valley wind that develops due to differential heating between valley floor and surrounding slopes, typically flowing upslope during daytime

Transfer of sensible and latent heat between surface and atmosphere via turbulent mixing

The most recent time during the last glacial period when ice sheets were at their greatest extent

Climatic index reflecting atmospheric pressure differences between Iceland and Azores

Temporal variation in precipitation patterns expressed as coefficient of variation in monthly precipitation over 5 years

Temperature dependence of larval feeding rate, characterized by maximum feeding rate, optimal temperature, and thermal sensitivity parameters

The difference between the amount of moisture in the air and how much moisture the air can hold when it is saturated, indicating evaporative demand

Climate pattern characterized by variations in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that affects global weather patterns

The slope of peak NDVI as a linear function of the June Palmer Drought Severity Index, representing plant productivity responses to early growing season drought conditions

Forward movement of ice sheets that leave behind terminal moraines and other glacial deposits

The most recent period in Earth's history (~116-130 ka) when temperatures were persistently warmer than today, specifically the Eemian period at 125 ka

Duration of favorable conditions for bee development and reproduction, shorter at high elevations

The positive feedback mechanism where reduced snow cover lowers surface albedo, increasing absorption and further reducing snow cover