Unit 11: Weather and Climate

What is a high pressure system?

Its a large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system. Because air moves from high pressure to low pressure, the air inside the system moves away from the center. Dense air sinks, bringing clear skies and fair weather.

Where do hurricanes form?

Over warm ocean water

What is weather?

The State of the Atmosphere at one time and place.

What is climate?

The average temperature and precipitation in an area determined over a long period of time.

What is the water cycle?

The continuous movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean

How does a cold front form?

a cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass

How does a warm front form?

a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass

How is wind measured?

anemometer

How is air pressure measured?

barometer

How does a stationary front form?

cold and warm mass meet, but don't move

What happens to water in the atmposphere?

condensation and precipitation

What does the water cycle transport?

energy, matter

How does water reach the atmosphere?

evaporation, transpiration, sublimation

How is precipitation measured?

gauge

What is a low pressure system?

its a large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and higher pressure outside of the system. This causes air inside the low pressure system to rise. The rising air cools and the water vapor condenses, forming clouds and sometimes precipitation—rain or snow.

How does a tornado form?

layers of wind in a storm blow at different speeds or directions.between these layers a column of air starts spinning like a log rolling on its side. then upward windslift one end of the column and down ward winds push downwards. this is called a funnel cloud. if it touches the ground it is called a tornado

How is humidity measured?

psychrometer

How does water move on land and in the oceans?

runoff, infiltration, ice flow, ocean circulation

What state of matter could water be found in?

solid, liquid, and gas

What are the climate zones?

temperate, polar, tropical

How is temperature measured?

thermometer