Download Weather Vocabulary

Weather Vocabulary
1. water cycle – the constant recycling of water on Earth
2. evaporation – the process in which a liquid changes to a gas
3. dew point – the temperature at which the moisture in the air begins to condense
4. rain – water falling in drops from the clouds
5. cloud – a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor suspended in the
atmosphere
6. condensation – the process by which water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid
7. precipitation – water that falls to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
8. moisture – the small amount of liquid that causes dampness
9. temperature – a measure of the average energy of motion of the particles in
matter
10. thermometer – an instrument for measuring temperature
11. air pressure – particles of air pressing down on the Earth’s surface
12. barometer – an instrument that measures air pressure
13. climate – the average temperature and rainfall of an area over many years
14. humidity – the amount of water vapor in the air
15. hygrometer – a tool to measure moisture in the air
16. atmosphere – the layer of air that surrounds our planet
17. troposphere – The layer closest to the earth. We live in the troposphere and
breathe its air.
18. stratosphere – Some airplanes that travel long distances fly in the stratosphere to
be above most bad weather. The stratosphere contains most of the atmosphere’s
ozone, a kind of oxygen. The ozone protects living things from the sun’s harmful
rays. Temperatures in the stratosphere increase with height.
19. greenhouse effect – The atmosphere traps heat from the sun much like the glass
of a greenhouse. Without this greenhouse effect, Earth would reflect most of the
sun’s energy back into space and Earth’s surface would be too cold to support
life.
20. air mass – Like air heated by a hot road, an air mass has the same general
properties as the land or water over which it forms. Two properties – moisture
content and temperature – are used to describe air masses.
21. front – When two air masses meet, they usually don’t mix. Instead they form a
border called a front.
22. Cumulus – puffy, cotton-ball clouds that begin to form when water droplets
condense at middle altitudes. Look for them on clear, warm days. They can
become cumulonimubus, or thunderstorm, clouds.
23. Cirrus – wispy, high-altitude clouds that are made up of ice crystals. Wind
stretches them into long, wispy horsetail or feather shapes. They usually go with
cooler, fair weather.
24. Cumulonimubus – towering, dark rain clouds with a nimbus, or halo, of graywhite. If a cold front moves past, you’ll probably see these clouds. If you see
them, it’s probably going to rain soon.
25. Altocumulus – thick blue-gray blanket-like clouds made of ice and water at
middle heights. Rain or snow likely, or at least cloudy skies
26. Stratus – flat layer of low clouds. Light rain, drizzle, or flurries likely, overcast
skies at best. You see these clouds on a gray, cloudy day. Stratus clouds form a
low layer of dary gray. They can occur along warm fronts. Sometimes they bring
light rain or snow showers.
27. Stratocumulus – dark, heavy water-droplet clouds at low or lower-middle
heights. Rain or snow very likely
28. water vapor – water in a gas (gaseous) state