Download Weather - Athens Academy

WEATHER
-the state of the atmosphere at
a specific time and place
-air pressure, wind, temperature, and
humidity
- The SUN provides most of Earth’s energy,
driving the water cycle
AIR TEMPERATURE
• A measure of how much
molecules are moving
–Higher temp = faster moving, far
apart molecules
–Lower temp = slower moving,
closer together molecules
WIND
• Caused by air moving from
areas of high pressure to areas
of lose pressure
• Anemometer- an instrument
that measures wind speed
HUMIDITY
• The amount water vapor present in the air
– Warmer temperatures allow for the humidity of air
to be higher
– Condensation occurs when there is enough water
vapor in the air for it to be saturated
• Relative humidity- the measure of the
amount of water vapor present compared to
the amount needed for the air to be saturated
at a specific temperature
• The
TEMPERATURE
at which air is
saturated and
condensation
occurs
• It changes with
the amount of
water vapor in
the air
CLOUDS
• Form as warm air is forced upwards,
expands, and then cools
• Made of billions of tiny droplets of
water attached to small particles of
dust or salt that are suspended in
the air
• 3 main types
STRATUS
• Form at
low
altitudes
and are
associated
with fair
weather,
rain, or
snow
CUMULUS
• masses of puffy,
white clouds, with
flat bases
• Found at great
heights
• Associated with
fair weather and
thunderstorms
CIRRUS
• Fibrous and curly
• High, thin, white,
feathery cloud
made of ice
crystals
• Associated with
fair weather and
can indicate
approaching
storms
PRECIPITATION
• Water falling from
clouds
– Rain- temperature
above freezing
– Snow- water vapor
turns directly to a solid
– Sleet- starts as rain but
then freezes on the
way down
– Hail- lumps of ice