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air mass
large body of air with the same
temperature and humidity across
air pressure
- the pressure caused by the weight of a
column of air pushing down on an area;
- decreases with altitude (height).
anemometer
measures wind speed
atmosphere
the envelope of gases that surrounds
Earth
atmospheric pressure
the amount of pressure one feels due to
the mass of the atmosphere
atom
The smallest particle of an element.
barometer
measures air pressure
climate
long-term average weather in an area
cold front
- cold air pushes away warm air;
- steep and fast-moving;
- heavy rain, often with thunderstorms;
- in winter may bring heavy snowfall.
condensation
Gas to Liquid; gas gets colder and changes back to
liquid , forming clouds
condensing
The process by which a substance changes from its
gas phase to its liquid phase
drought
a long period of unusually dry weather
evaporating
changing from a liquid to a gas, gradually, at any
temperature
evaporation
The change of a liquid to a gas; the sun heats up and
turns it into vapor(gas)
freezing
Change from liquid to solid
front
where two different air masses meet
gas
In this state of matter the molecules are spread out and they move fast. The
warmer it is the more the more the molecules spread out and the faster they
move. As it cools the molecules come closer together and tend to slow down. This
state of matter disperses into the space that it is in. No definite shape or volume.
global warming
a gradual increase in the average
temperature of Earth's atmosphere
greenhouse effect
the process by which heat is trapped in
the atmosphere by gases that form a
"blanket" around Earth
humidity
- amount of moisture in the air;
hydrologic
The cycle through which water in the hydrosphere moves; includes such
processes as evaporation, precipitation, and surface and groundwater runoff
jet stream
fast moving stream of wind where cold,
polar air meets warm air from the equator
liquid
In this state of matter the molecules are loosely linked. They move more slowly. As
it gets warmer they spread out. If it cools they get closer together. This state of matter
takes the shape of its container. Liquids have definite volume but not definite shape.
mass
A measure of the amount of matter in an object
matter
Anything that has volume and mass. Anything that takes
up space.
melting
The change in state from a solid to a liquid
mesosphere
"shooting stars" can be seen in mesosphere
occluded front
- warm air mass trapped between two cold
air masses, without contact with the
ground;
- chaotic weather with variable
precipitation.
ozone layer
a layer of O3 molecules. highest concentration of ozone
is found in the stratosphere.
phase changes
transitions from one state to another
polar
dry, cold climate zone above 60 degree
latitude
precipitation
Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface like hail,
snow, sleet, rain;clouds get heavy and the air cannot hold it anymore
relative humidity
a percentage of the maximum amount of
water vapor the air can hold at its current
temperature and pressure
runoff
Part of the water cycle where an excess of water runs down and does not sink into
the soil and eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans.
solid
In this state of matter the particles are tightly linked together. They vibrate. The
colder it gets the closer together the molecules get and the less they vibrate. This
state of matter holds its own shape and volume.
stationary front
- cold and warm air masses are unable to
push each other away;
- chaotic weather with winds and
precipitation, that may change rapidly.
stratosphere
Contains highest levels of ozone
temperate
seasonably variable climate zone between
40 and 60 degrees latitude, north or south
of the equator
thermosphere
known for its high temperatures
transpiration
Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant
tropical
warm, moist climate zone within 20
degrees latitude, north or south of the
equator
troposphere
lowest level of the atmosphere
weather happens here
volume
The amount of space an object takes up
warm front
- warm air pushes away cold air;
- light and steady precipitation;
- slow-moving and shallow.
weather
- on-going changes in atmospheric conditions;
- fluctuations in temperature, air pressure, humidity,
wind, cloud coverage, or precipitation;
- takes place mostly in troposphere (bottom layer of
atmosphere).
weather maps
- position and movement of weather
fronts;
- centers of high and low pressure;
- temperature and precipitation.
wind vane
measures wind direction