CLIMATE. 119 



XII. CLIMATE. 



BY the climate of a country is meant the condi- 

 tion of its atmosphere as regards heat or cold, 

 moisture or dryness, healthfulness or unhealthful- 

 ness. 



The atmosphere, or ocean of air that surrounds 

 the earth, gets practically all its heat from the 

 sun, either directly hy absorption as the rays pass 

 through the air, or indirectly from the heated 

 earth. 



Or, less concisely, the atmosphere receives its 

 heat from the sun : 



1. Directly, by absorption. 



2. Indirectly, from the heated earth. 

 (a.) By contact with the heated earth. 



(6.) By radiation from the heated earth, that is, 

 the sun's rays heat the earth, and the heated earth 

 throws out or radiates its heat in all directions. 



(c.) By reflection from the heated earth, that is, 

 the sun's rays strike the earth and fly off from it 

 like light does when it strikes a mirror. 



The equatorial regions of the earth are warmer 



