Download Climate and Weather

by Carla Mooney
rourkeeducationalmedia.com
Teacher Notes available at
rem4teachers.com
© 2013 Rourke Educational Media
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system without permission in writing from the publisher.
www.rourkeeducationalmedia.com
PHOTO CREDITS: Cover and Title Page © Игорь Гончаренко; Table of Contents © Bruce Rolff; Page
4 © NOAA; Page 4/5 © Vitalez; Page 6 © NOAA, Robert Adrian Hillman; Page 7 © Christian Lopetz,
Wildstyle; Page 8 © Zhabska Tetyana; Page 9 © NOAA; Page 10 © NOAA; Page 11 © Jason York,
NOAA; Page 12 © Zhabska Tetyana; Page 12/13 © sebikus; Page 13 © andrea crisante; Page 15
© Jay Spooner, © Chris Hepburn, © Ricardo Reitmeyer; Page 14/15 © Steshkin Yevgeniy; Page 16
© sdecoret, courtesy of the Library of Congress; Page 17 © Christian Lopetz, Wildstyle; Page 18 ©
NOAA, Carolina K. Smith, M.D.; Page 19 © Vladislav Gurfinkel; Page 20/21 © Dave Newman; Page 22
© Iwona Grodzka; Page 23 © Lisa F. Young, tonyz20; Page 24 © Anton Balazh; Page 25 © NOAA;
Page 24/25 © Pichugin Dmitry; Page 26 © Peel, M. C., Finlayson, B. L., and McMahon, T. A.; Page 27
© Peel, M. C., Finlayson, B. L., and McMahon, T. A.; Page 28 © cla78; Page 29 © Christian Lopetz;
Page 30 © NOAA; Page 31 © NOAA; Page 30/31 © igor1308; Page 32 © Christian Lopetz; Page
32/33 © Gunnar Pippel; Page 35 © tomtsya; Page 34/35 © Pablo H Caridad, noaa; Page 37 © NOAA;
Page 36/37 © Croato; Page 38 © NOAA; Page 39 © NOAA, © Mark Hilverda; Page 41 © NOAA; Page
40/41 © NOAA; Page 42 © NOAA, U.S. Air Force; Page 43 © NOAA; Page 44 courtesy of NASA; Page
45 © Lew Robertson
Edited by Precious McKenzie
Cover design by Tara Raymo
Layout: Blue Door Publishing, FL
Library of Congress PCN Data
Climate and Weather / Carla Mooney
(Let’s Explore Science)
ISBN 978-1-61810-125-9 (hard cover) (alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-61810-258-4 (soft cover)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011945270
Rourke Educational Media
Printed in the United States of America,
North Mankato, Minnesota
rourkeeducationalmedia.com
[email protected] • PO Box 643328 Vero Beach, Florida 32964
Table of Contents
Ch 1
Elements of Weather..................................4
Ch 2 Wild Weather............................................14
Ch 3 The Earth’s Climate..................................24
Ch 4 Changing Climate....................................30
Ch 5 Studying Weather and Climate................38
Glossary...................................................46
Index........................................................48
3
CHAPTER ONE
Elements of Weather
Look out the window. Is it sunny or cloudy, hot or cold? Every
day, people ask about weather.
Weather is how we describe the events in the atmosphere that
happen each day. The weather may be cloudy, rainy, or snowy.
Weather can change each hour, day, or season. It may rain in the
morning, and then become sunny in the afternoon.
4
A weather map shows the likelihood of regions experiencing a
colder or warmer winter season.
The Sun does not heat the Earth evenly. Areas where the Sun’s rays are
most direct, like the equator, become hot for most of the year. Areas, like the
poles, that receive more indirect rays are colder for most of the year.
The unequal heating from the Sun puts the Earth’s atmosphere in motion.
Hot air is lighter and rises. Cold air is heavier and sinks. The air warms at
the equator, then rises and starts to move toward the poles. At the poles,
the cooler, dense air sinks and moves back toward the equator where it
replaces the warm air and the cycle begins again. This exchange of warm
and cold air affects weather.
5
10,000km
6214mi
Air Pressure
In the atmosphere air molecules
have weight. Scientists measure
600km
372mi
air pressure with a tool called a
barometer. Areas with more molecules
have denser, or heavier air. We call
them high-pressure areas. Air with
fewer, less dense molecules is a
Shuttle
low-pressure area. Aurora
100km
(Kármán line)
60-85km
62mi
37-53mi
Meteors
On a weather map, L represents a low-pressure area,
while H represents a high-pressure area.
The Atmosphere
15-50km
9-31mi
Hot Air
Balloon
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds
Earth. The atmosphere is primarily nitrogen (78 percent)
0-15km
0-9mi
and oxygen (21 percent). The atmosphere contains small
amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide and water
vapor. The atmosphere reaches about 372 miles (600
kilometers) from the Earth’s surface. The layers closest
Mount Everest
to the surface are where weather happens that we
The atmosphere is divided
experience.
into five basic layers.
6
Wind
You cannot see it, but you can feel it. Air moves from high-
pressure areas toward low-pressure areas. The greater the
difference in pressure, the faster the air moves.
People describe wind by its direction and speed. Wind
direction is the direction from which the wind blows. Winds also
have different speeds. The Beaufort Scale divides wind speeds
into 12 different categories. Calm winds move less than
1 mile per hour (1.6 kilometers per hour). Hurricane-force winds
travel more than 73 miles per hour (118 kilometers per hour).
Sir Francis Beaufort of England designed the Beaufort Scale in 1805 after observing
the effects of wind.
7
Clouds
As wind blows into low-pressure areas, it forces air to move
upward. When warm air that contains water vapor rises, it cools.
The cooling water vapor turns into tiny water droplets. The water is
not large or heavy enough to fall to Earth. These droplets combine
with particles of dust in the atmosphere to form clouds. Sometimes a
cloud turns gray or black. This happens because the cloud becomes
so dense that sunlight cannot pass through it.
The Rain Cycle
cooling water
vapor forms
clouds
warm air rises
8
precipitation
Precipitation
When the water in clouds becomes too heavy, it falls to the Earth
as precipitation. Precipitation can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Rain is liquid water that falls from clouds. On the way down,
tiny raindrops collect more water and grow larger until they splat
on the Earth’s surface. Sometimes liquid rain freezes as it falls and
becomes sleet.
When the air temperature is cold, snow falls. Snow forms when
cold air makes water vapor turn directly from a gas into solid
ice particles.
Hail forms in thunderstorm clouds. Hailstones grow larger as
drops of cold water hit them and freeze. When the icy balls become
too heavy, they fall to the Earth as hailstones.
Did You Know?
A faster updraft will cause hailstones to
grow larger.
The largest recorded hailstone
weighed more than 1.5 pounds
(0.7 kilograms).
9
Changing Weather
Weather can change every day, sometimes within a few hours.
These changes are caused by the collision of large air masses.
When two air masses collide a front or boundary forms between
them. The weather front creates changes in temperature, wind, air
pressure, and precipitation.
On a weather map the blue triangles represent a cold front, and the red triangles represent a
warm front.
10
An approaching cold front may darken the sky, form clouds, and trigger strong storms.
When a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass a cold
front forms. The cold air is more dense and is heavier than the
warm air. The cold air wedges underneath the warm air, forcing it
upwards. Strong storms usually form. But when the front passes,
the sky clears and temperatures drop.
A warm front forms when a warm mass of air moves toward
a cold mass of air. The less dense warm air slides above the
colder air. Instead of violent storms, warm fronts bring lighter and
steadier precipitation. Because they move slowly, warm fronts
can linger for days.
11
Weather Cycles
The Earth constantly moves. It travels around the Sun in an
elliptical orbit. It also rotates, or spins, on its axis. The Earth’s
movements cause
axis
night and day, seasons,
and temperature
differences on the planet.
12
Sun
At the Earth’s equator, the Sun’s rays are most direct. Areas
near the equator are some of the planet’s hottest. At the poles,
the Sun’s rays fall at a slant. Less solar energy reaches them,
making them colder. In between the poles and the equator, the
angle of the Sun’s rays changes depending on the time of year.
North P
ole
equat
or
South
Pole
In the summer, when the Earth is closer to the Sun, the rays
are more direct and there are more hours of sunlight than in the
winter. That is why summer days are usually hotter and longer
than winter days.
13
CHAPTER TWO
Wild Weather
Sometimes weather can be dramatic and violent. Each year, wild
weather kills and injures people and destroys property.
Thunderstorms
Boom! The crash of thunder warns you to stay indoors. Dangerous
thunderstorms produce lightning. Along with lightning, thunderstorms
can bring tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and flash floods.
To form, a thunderstorm needs moisture, rising, unstable air,
and something to lift that air. When warm, humid air rises in the
atmosphere, it cools and forms water-heavy clouds.
14
developing stage
towering cumulus
mature stage
Thunderstorms form in three stages. During the cumulus stage, strong updrafts build
the storm. The mature stage has heavy precipitation and cool downdrafts.
Lightning is the electrical
discharge of the cloud’s positive
and negative charges. The
discharge of lightning suddenly
heats gases in the atmosphere.
This causes an explosion of noise
that you hear as thunder.
15
Tornadoes
A tornado is one of nature’s most
violent storms. A tornado’s funnel cloud
is made of moving air, soil, and other
debris. It can rotate as fast as 300 miles
per hour (480 kilometers per hour). A
tornado’s powerful winds can knock
over trees, demolish buildings, and
launch cars into the air.
16
Benjamin Franklin
and his son
William flying a
kite during
a storm.
Storm Chasers
Storm chasers drive thousands
of miles in search of tornadoes,
thunderstorms, and hurricanes.
They bring radar and other weather
instruments to collect measurements
such as wind speed, temperature, and
precipitation. Other storm chasers
photograph or video severe weather.
One of the most well-known storm
chasers was Benjamin Franklin. He
followed a thunderstorm for his
famous kite and key experiment.
Tornadoes develop in warm, humid conditions. Before a
thunderstorm forms, winds near the Earth’s surface blow in one
direction, while winds higher in the atmosphere blow in another
direction. This creates a horizontally rotating mass of air. When
rotating air rises into a thunderstorm, the storm pulls the rotating air
into a vertical column.
The thunderstorm’s rain and hail cause the funnel to stretch from
the cloud to the ground. This creates a tornado. The tornado’s
rotating funnel generates violent winds.
A.When a tornado forms, a column of air begins to rotate. This may occur when winds at
two different altitudes blow in two different directions.
B. The rotating column is caught in an updraft that tightens its spin and speeds it up.
Faster spin forms a funnel cloud.
C. The rain and hail in the thunderstorm cause the funnel cloud to touch down, creating a
tornado.
17
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are enormous
storms! With powerful winds, heavy
rains, and deadly storm surges,
hurricanes can pack a mighty punch.
Hurricane winds destroy homes and
buildings. Its storm surge causes
ocean water to rise rapidly and flood
coastal towns. Heavy rains create
Hurricane hunters fly into hurricanes to collect
weather data.
flooding hundreds of miles inland.
Weather forecasters use satellite images and computer modeling
to track and predict the size and path of a hurricane over Florida.
hurricane
18
Hurricanes form in tropical regions. They need warm water that is
at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), high humidity,
light winds, and warm surface temperatures. The warm, humid air
rises to form clouds, leaving a low-pressure area close to the surface.
The air around the low-pressure area begins to twist in a spiral.
As more water evaporates from the ocean, it rises, cools, and
forms heavy rain clouds. The clouds are caught in the violently rotating
spiral. At the center of the spiral, the hurricane’s eye forms. Although it
is the calmest part of the storm, it draws more warm, moist air into the
rotating system. This increases the hurricane’s strength and size.
eye
19
Blizzards
It’s snowing outside! If the wind is blowing hard, you might want
to skip the sledding and stay inside. Blizzards are dangerous winter
storms. A blizzard has large amounts of snow and winds blowing more
than 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour). These conditions last
for more than 3 hours.
Blowing snow can cause whiteout conditions, where people cannot
see to drive or walk. Drifting snow can block roads and cause car
accidents. Because of a blizzard’s severe cold temperatures, being
outside during the winter storm can cause frostbite or hypothermia.
20
Blizzards often form on the northwest side of an intense storm
system. Strong winds develop when a higher-pressure air mass
coming from the west hits the lower-pressure area of the storm. The
difference in pressure causes strong winds to blow. These strong
winds pick up the snow on the ground, or snow falling from the sky.
With the whipping wind and snow, it’s a blizzard outside!
Did You Know?
Wind can make it feel
colder than the temperature
outside. Many weather
forecasts include a wind chill
temperature. This number
is a measure of how cold the
wind makes it feel outdoors.
21
Preparing for a Storm
Because wild weather can be extremely dangerous, being
prepared can help you protect yourself during a storm. To prepare
for wild weather, some people make a disaster kit. The kit includes
supplies like food, medicine, water, flashlights, batteries, and a
battery-powered radio. You can use the kit if you lose power or are
stranded by a storm.
Making a plan is an important way to prepare for a storm. Know
where to go and what to do if a storm strikes. Decide where to meet
family or how to contact each other.
22
An emergency kit should be stocked with items needed to survive for a few days in a storm.
Boarding up windows before
a storm may prevent damage.
Securing your home can help you prepare for a storm. Before a
hurricane, people board up windows and put away lawn furniture
that could become dangerous in strong winds. Before a blizzard,
people stock up on shovels and de-icer and make sure their heating
systems are working properly.
The weather service and local
officials inform people about
approaching storms. Sometimes,
if a storm is extremely dangerous,
local officials will ask people to
evacuate, or leave the area.
23
CHAPTER THREE
The Earth’s Climate
Have you ever wondered why some places are always hot
and dry, while others are cold and snowy? Why there are forests,
deserts, and grasslands? The answer is climate.
Climate is the average weather pattern in an area over many
years. It includes an area’s pattern of weather conditions and
seasons, and special weather events like tornadoes or floods.
Sahara Desert
AFRICA
24
The Sahara Desert is the world’s largest hot desert. The
north has high temperature ranges, from cold winters
to hot summers, and even two rainy seasons. The south
has a dry, tropical climate, with just one rainy season.
Did You Know?
In the United States, Minneapolis is a cold and snowy climate while San
Diego is a sunny and warm climate.
25
Earth’s Climactic Zones
Temperature and precipitation are two important factors that
describe an area’s climate. The Koppen climate classification system
divides the Earth into five major climactic zones: tropical, dry,
temperate, continental, and polar.
equator
Tropical zones are usually near the equator. They have high temperatures and
large amounts of rain year round.
Dry zones have little rain. Temperatures can vary widely each
day. Yuma, Arizona falls in a dry zone. Areas with warm and humid
summers and mild winters are temperate zones. Much of the
southeastern United States is part of a temperate zone.
26
Continental climate zones, marked in color on the map, are found in northern
areas of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Continental zones have warm to cool summers and cold winters.
Winters in continental zones have snowstorms, strong winds, and
severe cold temperatures. In the United States, some northern states
such as Wisconsin and Maine are in the continental zone.
Polar zones have cold
temperatures all year long.
The warmest month is less
than 50 degrees Fahrenheit
Did You Know?
The Koppen classification system was
developed by German climatologist Wladimir
Koppen in the early twentieth century.
(10 degrees Celsius). The
northern coastal areas of
North America, Europe, Asia,
Greenland, and Antarctica
are polar zones.
27
What Affects Climate?
There are many natural factors that affect climate. One of the
most important factors is an area’s latitude or distance from the
equator. As you move away from the equator, the Sun’s rays are less
direct and intense.
equator
The Sun's rays reach areas near the Earth's equator most directly. This causes
regions near the equator to have hotter temperatures than anywhere else on Earth.
Climate can also be affected by a region’s altitude. In higher areas,
the air is less dense. Less dense air cannot absorb and hold heat as
easily as more dense air. As a result, these regions are colder than lower
altitude areas. High altitude areas such as mountains may also have
more precipitation than lower lying areas.
28
Ocean currents can increase or reduce temperatures. The Gulf
Stream is an ocean current that affects the United States. This
warm current flows from the Gulf of Mexico, north along the United
States’ east coast. It brings warm air from the Gulf of Mexico.
Being near the coast may also make an area cooler and wetter
than inland areas. Areas further from the ocean can be hot and dry
as moisture from the ocean evaporates before it reaches inland.
North
America
Asia
Europe
Africa
Australia
South
America
OCEAN CURRENTS
The direction of wind can also affect climate. Warm winds blowing
from a hot region raise temperatures. Chilly winds from colder areas
lower temperatures. Winds that blow from the ocean often drop rain
on coastal areas, but bring dry weather to inland regions.
29
CHAPTER FOUR
Changing Climate
Weather changes every day. The Sun may shine one day, while
rain falls the next day. Over time, climate may also change. Climate
change occurs when there is a significant change in temperature,
precipitation, or wind patterns that last for a long period of time.
La Nina, an abnormal cooling of ocean temperatures in the eastern and central
Pacific Ocean, creates a shift in Pacific rainfall patterns. La Nina can bring flooding
rains and hurricanes to some areas, while causing a drought in other areas. La Nina’s
opposite, El Nino, causes warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and
central Pacific Ocean, and can also cause heavy rains, hurricanes, and droughts.
30
Climate will change if the factors that affect it change.
Changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun affects the amount
of sunlight a region receives. The intensity of the Sun’s rays may
also change over time. Both of these events affect temperatures
and climate. Changes in the way the ocean circulates warm and
cold water to different regions can also lead to climate change.
The ultraviolet or UV index measures the strength of ultraviolet radiation from the
Sun. It is used to help people protect themselves from UV light, which can cause
sunburns, eye damage, skin aging, and skin cancer.
31
Global Warming
Global warming can also cause climates to change. Global
warming means a rise in temperatures in the atmosphere and in
the oceans. Warmer temperatures affect rainfall patterns, storms,
droughts, humidity, and sea levels.
Greenhouse Effect
The Earth’s surface, warmed by the Sun, radiates heat. Certain gases in the
atmosphere called greenhouse gases naturally help the atmosphere absorb the
heat from the Earth’s surface. This traps the heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Some
greenhouses gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Changes in greenhouse gases can affect how much heat the atmosphere traps. Too
many affects global temperatures and climates.
32
Scientists have been studying global warming for years. Some
people believe that global warming and climate change are part
of Earth’s natural cycles. Others believe that human activities
can cause climate change. Burning fossil fuels or clearing forests
increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They
believe that more greenhouses gases will trap more heat in the
atmosphere and lead to global warming.
33
Effects of Climate Change
Most scientists believe that the Earth’s climate is changing. A panel
of scientists reported that over the past 100 years, Earth’s surface
temperature has risen an average of 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit (0.6
degrees Celsius). This may not sound like a big difference. However,
even a tiny shift in temperature can affect climates around the world.
34
Perito Moreno glacier, in Patagonia, Argentina.
As global temperatures rise, arctic sea ice and glaciers melt.
Melting ice turns into fresh water that runs into the oceans. This may
change ocean currents and temperatures. In addition, melting ice
can cause sea levels to rise. Scientists say that melting sea ice may
cause sea levels to rise as much as 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters) in
the next 200 years. These changes in the ocean may threaten coral
reefs, wetlands, and coastal towns all over the world.
35
Climate changes can impact a region’s weather patterns. Some
places may become warmer, while others become cooler. Precipitation
may increase or decrease. Many scientists believe that climate change
may also increase the risk of extreme weather occurrences. Higher
temperatures in some regions may lead to drought or extreme heat
waves. In other areas, increased rainfall may bring flooding.
In a drought, many streams and rivers dry up from lack of rain.
Local ecosystems can also be severely impacted by a drought.
36
Climate change can also affect ecosystems. Ecosystems are
made up of plants and animals that live together in a habitat.
Changes in weather may make it too hot or cold, wet or dry, for
plants to grow. Animals that eat those plants may not be able to find
food. They will be forced to find other food or die. Animals that can
no longer live in their natural habitat must move to another habitat.
As animals and plants move and die, ecosystems change.
Drought Forecast
37
CHAPTER FIVE
Studying Weather and Climate
Meteorology is more than looking at a weather map. It is the
science of understanding and predicting short-term weather and
long-term climate conditions. Scientists called meteorologists study
the atmosphere to learn about weather and how to forecast it. They
often spend time in a lab, reading computer-generated charts. They
review satellite images and study radar data.
They use this information to issue weather forecasts or severe
weather alerts to the public. Some meteorologists research the
atmosphere and how it changes.
Did You Know?
The United States
Government is the largest
employer of meteorologists.
A meteorologist uses computer modeling to
analyze and predict weather patterns.
38
Predicting Weather
Every day, scientists predict weather.
They study information from weather
stations. They use satellite images to
determine weather conditions and track the
large air masses around the Earth. Because
air masses are usually predictable, scientists
can predict future weather patterns. New
technologies help scientists make better
A weather station takes
measurements including
temperature, humidity, wind
speed and wind direction.
and more complete weather forecasts.
Doppler weather radar
39
Doppler Radar
Doppler radar allows meteorologists to see weather conditions
over a large land area. Like ordinary radar, Doppler radar shows
where precipitation is and how strong it is. Doppler radar can also
report wind direction, wind speed, warm fronts, and cold fronts.
40
Mobile Doppler trucks drive close to severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and
tornadoes to gather information about wind and precipitation.
A Doppler radar image shows heavy precipitation shaded in
orange, with lighter precipitation shaded in green.
41
Observation Tools
Meteorologists use a variety of observational tools to study the
weather. Weather stations collect data on land. Scientists launch
thousands of floating buoys in the ocean. The buoys measure water
temperature, ocean currents, and sea level. Scientists also send
weather balloons into the atmosphere. These huge balloons carry
observation tools that take measurements. When the balloons burst,
parachutes carry the tools slowly back to Earth.
Ships and airplanes act like moving weather stations. They record
weather data wherever they go. High-flying airplanes drop sensors
with parachutes called dropsondes. Dropsondes can even be
dropped into a hurricane. They measure the storm’s temperature,
pressure, moisture, and wind.
buoy
42
weather balloon
dropsonde
Visible
Infrared
Infrared Water Vapor
The GOES-East satellite shows how a storm approaching the northeastern United States appears
using visible, infrared, and infrared water vapor images. The visible image was taken during
daylight hours and provides highly detailed images of cloud features. The infrared image shows
storm intensity, with more intense areas shaded in orange. The infrared water vapor image
shows areas of high moisture and water vapor shaded in blue.
Satellites
Weather satellites orbit the Earth. Satellites use sensors
to measure temperature, winds, and other information about
the atmosphere. Satellite images show clouds and storms
on the Earth. Satellites
can image and measure
the entire surface of the
Earth. They can gather
information in remote
The GOES-East and GOES-West
satellites hover in space,
collecting data about
Earth’s atmosphere
and sending it to
scientists on the
ground.
areas where no weather
stations exist.
43
Computer models
Powerful supercomputers gather the data collected by radar,
weather stations, and other observation tools. With this data,
supercomputers perform complex mathematical calculations. They
produce computer models that predict future weather.
Complex computer models help meteorologists prepare detailed weather maps and forecasts.
44
Studying Climate
Scientists called climatologists study climate change and the
differences between climates. They collect data from all over the
world using weather stations, weather balloons, and ocean buoys.
They use satellites to measure the Sun’s activity. They use computer
models that predict how climate will affect regions and habitats.
Natural records help scientists understand what the climate was like
long ago and how it has changed.
Did You Know?
Scientists examine several types of natural
records. Air bubbles trapped in glacial ice
hold clues about the atmosphere thousands
of years ago.They analyze sediment for clues
about past climates. Even trees hold clues
about past climates. On a slice of tree trunk,
scientists study tree rings to determine the
tree’s age. The tree rings also show how
much precipitation fell in past years.
Weather and climate influence people around the world every
day. Scientists are working to learn more about the forces that affect
weather and climate. With this knowledge, we may be better able to
answer the question, “What’s the weather?”
45
Glossary
air masses (air mass-iz): large bodies of air with similar
temperature and moisture levels
air pressure (air PRESH-ur): the density or weight of the air,
which is greater near the Earth than it is at high altitudes
altitude (AL-ti-tood): the height of an area above sea level
atmosphere (AT-muhss-fihr): the layer of gases that
surround the Earth
climate (KLYE-mit): the usual weather in a place
dense (denss): how heavy an object is for its size
discharge (diss-CHARJ): to release a substance into the open
elliptical (ih-LIP-ti-kuhl): oval-shaped
evacuate (i-VAK-yoo-ate): to move away from an area because
it is dangerous there
evaporates (i-VAP-uh-ratess): when a liquid changes into a
vapor or gas
global warming (GLOH-buhl WORM-ing): a rise in the
temperatures in the atmosphere and oceans
46
latitude (LAT-uh-tood): the position of a place, measured in
degrees north or south of the equator
meteorology (mee-tee-uh-ROL-uh-jee): the study of the Earth’s
atmosphere and its climate and weather
precipitation (pri-sip-i-TAY-shuhn): the falling of water from the
sky in the form of rain, sleet, hail, or snow
radar (RAY-dar): technology that finds solid objects by reflecting
radio waves off them and by receiving the reflected waves
satellite (SAT-uh-lite): a spacecraft that is sent into orbit around
the Earth, the Moon, or another space body
storm surges (storm surjz-iz): quick rising of ocean waters that
causes coastal flooding
temperature (TEM-pur-uh-chur): the degree of heat or cold in
something, usually measured by a thermometer
water vapor (WAW-tur VAY-pur): the gas produced when
water evaporates
47
Index
air mass 10, 11
atmosphere 4, 6
blizzard(s) 20, 21, 23
climate 24, 25, 28, 29
climactic zones 26, 27
climate change 30, 31, 34-37
computer models 44
Doppler radar 40, 41
front(s) 10, 11, 40
global warming 32, 33
greenhouse effect 32
hurricane 18, 19
meteorology 38
observation tools 42, 44
precipitation 9
satellite 38, 43
storm chasers 16
storm preparation 22, 23
thunderstorm 14, 15
tornado 16, 17
wind 7
Websites to Visit
www.education.noaa.gov/
www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids
www.theweatherchannelkids.com/
About the Author
Carla Mooney has always been fascinated by weather
and storms. She has a Bachelor of Science degree
from the University of Pennsylvania and has written
more than 25 books for young people. Today, she
watches the weather with her husband and three
children near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ask The Author!
www.rem4students.com
48
TITLES IN THIS SERIES:
Earth and Space Science
Biofuels
Climate and Weather
Exploring the Solar System
Geology
Plate Tectonics and Disasters
Rocks, Minerals, and Soil
Rot and Decay: Decomposing and Recycling
Sorting the Elements: The Periodic Table at Work
Space
The Earth and the Role of Water
Understanding Biomes
Weather
History and Nature Of Science
Enjoy Your Meal: What Happens When You Eat?
Environmental Disasters
Going Green
Infections, Infestations, and Diseases
Our Footprint on Earth
Restoring Wetlands
Physical Science
Energy
Floods, Dams, and Levees
Forces and Motion at Work
Ice to Steam: Changing States of Matter
Microworlds
Turn on the Light: How Electricity Works
Life Science
Animal Invaders
Animal Science
Biodiversity
Cells
Food Chains and Webs: The Struggle to Survive
Food From the Sun: How Plants Live and Grow
Fossils: Uncovering the Past
Plants Out of Place
The Nervous System
You Can’t Wear These Genes
Science and Technology
Build it Green
Built to Last
Computers
GPS
Inventors and Discoveries
Medical Technology and Engineering
MP3 Players
Solar Energy
Thanks, NASA!
The Internet and Email
Video Games
Wind Energy
Science As Inquiry
Enterprise STEM
Understanding Models
Using Scientific Tools
rourkeeducationalmedia.com
Printed in USA