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Weather Study Guide - SOL 4.6
(updated 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
meteorologists. 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(n) forecast.
7.
Meteorologists measure four properties of the air to describe weather –
air temperature, humidity, wind, and air pressure.
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(n) 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
Word Bank
atmosphere
temperature
thermometer
humidity
surface
humidity
water vapor
air pressure
weather
gases
12.
Humidity is measured with a(n) 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
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(n) higher pressure than warm air. Cold air
pushes down on the earth with more pressure, creating a(n)
__________________ pressure area.
16.
Warm air rises and creates less pressure, creating a(n)
__________________ pressure area.
17.
The tool that measures air pressure is a(n) 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(n)
wind vane.
20.
The instrument that measures wind speed is a(n)
anemometer.
21.
Water vapor cools as it rises higher in the air, and
condensation takes place, forming clouds.
22.
White fluffy clouds that look like cotton are called cumulus clouds.
Cumulus clouds are common on clear, sunny days. These are present during fair
weather.
23.
When these clouds get larger and darker on the bottom they are called
cumulo-nimbus clouds 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 clouds. They usually mean fair
weather but mean rain or snow will fall in the near future.
wind
hygrometer
temperature
wind vane
higher
barometer
Word Bank
high
low
cumulus
air pressure
anemometer warm
cumulo-nimbus
cirrus
condensation
25.
Smooth, gray clouds that cover the sky are called stratus clouds.
usually are associated with light rain, drizzle, or snow.
26.
Any type of water that falls to the ground from clouds is called
Precipitation. Four types are rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
27.
Rain may start as ice crystals.
28.
Snow freezes and forms in clouds.
29.
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.
30.
Hail forms as it lifts and drops in a thundercloud adding ice layers.
31.
A(n) rain gauge measures the amount of precipitation.
They
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(n) front. Most weather
changes occur along fronts.
6.
When a warm air mass pushes into a cold air mass, a(n)
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
stratus
warm
sleet
rain gauge
rain
Word Bank
cold
warm
hail
snow
front
air mass
precipitation
8.
When cold air pushes into an area of warm air, a(n) cold front
forms.
9.
Air in a cold air 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(n) 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(n) 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(n) tornado.
Tornadoes are usually associated with cumulo-nimbus clouds.
tornado
cold
climate
warm
Word Bank
hurricane
cold front
temperate
temperate
typhoon
equator