Temperate
Having a generally moderate climate; the temperate zone is the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle, or between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.

Albedo effect
A measure of how much of the sun’s energy is reflected from Earth back into space.

Cyrosphere
The frozen water part of the Earth system, including areas with snow, glaciers, sea ice, and frozen earth.

Historical geologist
A person who studies the evolution of the Earth from its origin to the present.

Tropical
Lying in latitudes just north or south of the equator between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; also the vegetation, organisms, and climate typical of this zone.

Atmosphere
Consists mostly of the troposphere and the stratosphere which comprise the whole mass of air surrounding the Earth. The troposphere is the innermost layer of the atmosphere, containing about 95% of the mass of the Earth’s air and extending 11 miles (17 km) above sea level. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere and extends from about 11 to 30 miles (17 to 48 km) above the Earth’s surface.

Decomposition
The process of mechanically or chemically breaking down dead material.

Ice age
A period of time when large portions of the Earth are covered with glaciers. There have been multiple ice ages in Earth’s history.

Weather
Atmospheric conditions at any given time or place, measured in terms of wind, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness, and precipitation. In most places, weather changes from hour to hour, day to day, and season to season.

This is just a plain old Glossary item.