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Weather Study Guide - SOL 4.6
(updated 2015-2016)
Air, Wind, and Atmosphere
1.
Air is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, and water vapor.
2.
The “blanket” of air surrounding the earth is called the atmosphere.
3.
The condition of the atmosphere at a given time is known as the weather.
Weather takes place in the layer that is closest to Earth.
4.
Scientists who study and predict weather are called
meterologists. Meteor comes from a word that means
“something happening in the sky.”
5.
Meteorologists use data to predict weather patterns.
6.
This prediction is also called a forecast.
7.
Meteorologists measure four properties of the air to describe weather –
air temperature, humidity, air pressure,
and wind.
8.
The measure of heat, or thermal, energy in the atmosphere is known as
temperature. The sun heats the earth’s surface
which then heats the air above it. Blacktop and wood heat quickly; grass will be
cooler.
9.
The sun is directly overhead at noon. At other times of the day,
the angle of the sun is less direct.
10.
The tool that measures temperature is a thermometer.
Temperature is measured in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
11.
Air holds different amounts of water vapor at different
temperatures. The measure of the amount of water vapor in the air is called
humidity. High humidity can also affect another weather factor, precipitation.
Forecast
noon
predict
wind
meteorologists
mesosphere
Word Bank
atmosphere
temperature
thermometer
humidity
surface
humidity
stratosphere
troposphere
water
vapor
air pressure gases
thermosphere
weather
12.
Humidity is measured with a hygrometer.
13.
A layer of air presses down on the earth. Air pressure,
or the weight of the air, is determined by many factors including
humidity and temperature. Changes in temperature create changes
in air pressure. Changes in air pressure usually bring changes in weather.
14.
Particles of cool air are closer together than particles of warm air.
15.
Cool air usually has a higher pressure than warm air. Cold air pushes
down on the earth with more pressure, creating a
___________________________________.
16.
Warm air rises and creates less pressure, creating a
___________________________________.
17.
The tool that measures air pressure is a barometer.
WIND:
18.
The movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
is known as wind.
19.
The instrument that shows wind direction is called a
wind vane.
20.
The instrument that measures wind speed is an
anemometer.
21.
Water vapor gets into the air from oceans, rivers, etc., through
high-pressure area or sea breeze.
22.
Water vapor cools as it rises higher in the air, and
condensation takes place, forming clouds.
23.
White fluffy clouds that look like cotton are called cumulus.
When these clouds get larger and darker on the bottom they are called
Cumulo-nimbus and are associated with
thunderstorms. “Nimbo” means rain.
24.
White feathery clouds high up in the air that are made of tiny pieces of ice
are called cirrus They usually mean fair, cool weather.
Wind
hygrometer
condensation
warm
wind vane
higher
temperature
cirrus
Word Bank
high pressure area
low pressure area
cumulus
air pressure
cumulo-nimbus
evaporation
barometer
anemometer
25.
Smooth, gray clouds that cover the sky are called stratus.
They usually are associated with light rain, drizzle, or snow.
26.
Any type of water that falls to the ground from clouds is called
precipation. Four types are rain, snow, sleet, and hail. Snow freezes and
forms in clouds. Sleet forms when rain freezes as it falls from the clouds through
a layer of freezing air. It turns into ice before hitting the ground.
27.
A rain gauage measures the amount of precipitation.
Weather and Climate
1.
A large amount of air that has the same temperature and humidity is called an
air mass. One can cover an entire continent.
2.
An air mass that forms over the North Pole will be cold.
3.
An air mass that forms over the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico or Tropics will
be warm.
4.
Air masses constantly move bringing changes to the weather.
5.
The line where two different air masses meet is called a front. Most weather
changes occur along fronts.
6.
When a warm air mass pushes into a cold air mass, a
warm front results.
7.
The warm air rises slowly along a warm air front.
- clouds form
- usually there is a light rain or steady drizzle that can last for hours
- the air temperature usually rises after the front passes
move
front
warm
stratus
rain gauge
Word Bank
cold
warm front
air mass
precipitation
8.
When cold air pushes into an area of warm air, a cold front forms.
9.
Air in a cold front moves quickly and rises rapidly.
- thick clouds form as the warm air rises rapidly and cools
- a cold front sometimes brings violent weather like a thunderstorm
- storm usually passes quickly
- colder temperatures follow the front
10.
The average weather in a certain place for a long period of times is called
climate.
11.
The sun heats the surface of the earth unevenly. The area around the
equator receives the most direct sunlight.
12.
Midway between the poles and the equator the climate is generally
temperate, not too hot or too cold.
13.
The sun’s rays strike the earth at a slant near the poles. Winter is
usually long and cold, summer is short but
warm.
14.
The climate of Virginia is described as temperate, warm and mild most of the
year.
15.
A hurricane is a strong storm that forms near Africa and moves
across the Atlantic Ocean. The storm can have winds of between 75 and
150 mph.
16.
A typhoon is a strong storm that forms in the Pacific Ocean.
17.
A strong, funnel-shaped storm that forms over land is known as a
tornado. Tornadoes are usually associated with cumulo-nimbus clouds.
tornado
cold
equator
climate
warm
hurricane
forecast
Word Bank
cold front
temperate
typhoon
temperate
meteorologists
predict