Download Your Weather Knowledge Study Guide

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CHANGES OVER TIME
Changes in the Atmosphere
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Your Weather Knowledge Study Guide
The atmosphere is the layer of air that goes
around the Earth.
The coldest layer is the mesosphere.
The second layer is the stratosphere.
The layer closest to the Earth is the troposphere.
Climate is the pattern of weather in
a place over many years.
Weather is the daily conditions outside. Temperature,
wind direction, wind speed and what the air is like are all
parts of the weather.
A meteorologist is a scientist who studies the weather.
Meteorology is the study of the weather.
Air pressure is the air around everyone that presses on us and
presses on things around us.
A barometer is a weather instrument (tool) used to
measure air pressure.
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CHANGES OVER TIME
Changes in the Atmosphere
Test Your Weather Knowledge Study Guide
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Two causes of wind are the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface and
differences in air pressure.
An anemometer is a weather instrument (tool) used
to measure wind speed.
A wind sock is used to measure wind direction.
A weather vane is also used to measure wind direction.
You measure the mass of matter using a balance.
The volume of a gas depends on the size of its container.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in a certain amount
of air; it is compared to the maximum amount of water vapor
the air can have at a given temperature.
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Name__________________________________________________Date_____________________
CHANGES OVER TIME
Changes in the Atmosphere
Test Your Weather Knowledge Study Guide
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Many years ago, before homes and offices were air
conditioned, people would leave the city and spend
the summer near a lake or ocean. The air near a
body of water is usually cooler than air farther
away from water.
Cumulus clouds are big, fluffy clouds. The weather is usually
fair or clear.
Stratus clouds are thick, flat clouds low in the sky.
They are usually gray and can be a sign of rainy or
stormy weather.
Cirrus clouds are thin clouds that some think
look like a horse-tail. You can see them in fair weather.
The sun warms the Earth and atmosphere.
Low pressure air masses result in rainy weather.
High pressure air masses cause sunny and clear weather.
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Name__________________________________________________Date_____________________
CHANGES OVER TIME
Changes in the Atmosphere
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The Water Cycle
The water cycle is important because it lets us never run out of water.
Condensation
Precipitation
Evaporation
Accumulation
Accumulation – when precipitation goes into the ground and/or runs off
into a lake, river, ocean or other body of water
Evaporation - when liquid water changes into a gas and goes into the air
as water vapor. Evaporation occurs faster in warmer climates.
Condensation - the process where water vapor (gas) changes into liquid;
clouds form
Precipitation – when evaporated water falls back to earth as rain or snow
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