Weather

  • Air – a mixture of gases. 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen, 2% All other gases combined

     

    Air Mass – a large body of air with the same temperature and moisture throughout.

     

    Air Pressure – the weight of all the air above pushing down.

     

    Anemometer – the instrument that measures wind speed.

     

    Atmosphere – the thin layer of gases that surround Earth.

     

    Barometer – the instrument that measures air pressure.

     

    Climate – the condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time.

     

    Cloud – a collection of billions of droplets of liquid water in the sky.

     

    Cold Front – cold air pushing warm air ahead of it.  Usually brings brief bad weather.

     

    Condensation – water vapor changing into liquid water as the atoms lose energy.

     

    Convection – the cyclic motion of liquids and gases due to density differences caused by unequal heating.

     

    Continental Air Mass – dry air

     

    Dew Point Temperature – the temperature that water condenses at and forms clouds.

     

    Evaporation - liquid water changing into water vapor as the atoms gain energy.

     

    Freezing – liquid water changing into solid water as atoms lose energy.

     

    Front – the boundary between two air masses.

     

    Greenhouse Effect – a average increase in air temperature as energy is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or the glass in an actual greenhouse.

     

    Greenhouse Gas – carbon dioxide(CO2), water vapor(H2O) or methane(CH3) trap heat energy in the atmosphere.

     

    Hazardous Weather – severe storms that are dangerous to people and property, includes thunderstorms, winter storms, tornadoes & hurricanes.

     

    High Pressure System – cool, dry, dense air that is sinking and produces clear skies and fair weather.

    Humidity – the amount of water vapor in the air.

     

    Hydrosphere – water layer of Earth

     

    Jet Stream – air flow in upper atmosphere the influences weather patterns.

     

    Lithosphere – solid layers of Earth.

     

    Low Pressure System – warm, moist, light air that rises forming clouds and foul weather.

     

    Maritime Air Mass – moist air

     

    Melting – solid water changing to liquid water as the atoms gain energy

     

    Meteorology – the study of Earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate

     

    Ozone – a kind of oxygen (O3) in the stratosphere that absorbs and protects you from ultra-violet (UV) radiation

     

    Polar Air Mass – cold air

     

    Precipitation – liquid or solid water falling from clouds.

     

    Prevailing Wind – the usual wind pattern for a latitude zone that controls the direction weather moves.

     

    Stratosphere – atmosphere layer above troposphere that contains ozone and where the jet stream is.

     

    Temperature –the average kinetic energy (motion) of particles (a measure of heat energy).

     

    Transpiration – water vapor moving into the atmosphere from plants

     

    Tropical Air Mass – warm air

     

    Troposphere – the lowest atmosphere layer contains water and is where our weather is found. 

     

    Warm Front - warm air pushing or riding up over cooler air ahead of it.  Usually brings long periods of cloudy or rainy weather.

     

    Water Cycle – a model used to show the water moving to and from the hydrosphere,  the atmosphere and the lithosphere.

     

    Weather – the condition of the atmosphere for a short time at a particular place.

     

    Wind – air moving because of convection and density differences in the atmosphere.