ES2 Weather Terms
atmosphere
The layers of gases surrounding Earth
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Towering gray mass like clouds
An instrument that measures air pressure.
What is a barometer?
The 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth's axis causes the Earth to receive areas of direct light and areas of indirect light from the Sun.
What is the reason for the seasons?
low air pressure
created when air molecules heat and rise, causes rain and stormy weather
Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail
How can precipitation fall?
Stratus Clouds
Broad clouds that blanket the sky
No Ceiling
Clear sky, no clouds
weather events
Combinations and interactions of weather conditions that occur at a specific place and time. Example: Hail Storm
Cumulus Clouds
Fluffy cottonball like fair weather clouds
Cirrus Clouds
High Wispy, snot like clouds
A fast moving high pressure air mass that moves in on a warm air mass and usually bring lots of rain and strong winds. The stormy weather passes quickly.
What is a cold front?
The area where two air masses meet.
What is a front?
The smallest unit of a substance made of two or more atoms.
What is a molecule?
Moves slowly and covers a large area. They bring light, steady rain.
What is a warm front?
The weight of the air above an area of Earth measured in millibars or inches of mercury.
What is air pressure?
A huge body of air that has nearly the same temperature and humidity throughout.
What is an air mass?
Generalized average weather conditions typical for a location.
What is climate?
The process of water vapor becoming liquid water when it cools.
What is condensation?
The process in which thermal energy (heat) is transferred by molecules in contact with each other.
What is conduction?
The movement of gas or liquid caused by differences in temperature.
What is convection?
The changing of liquid water to water vapor at the surface.
What is evaporation?
The amount of water vapor in the air.
What is humidity?
A geographical location measured in degrees N or S of the equator.
What is latitude?
Any form of water that falls to the Earth.
What is precipitation?
The 300 mile thick blanket of gasses/air above the Earth's surface.
What is the atmosphere?
Clouds that look like thin, white feathers. These clouds form high in the sky and are usually made of ice crystals. They are often a sign of good weather.
What is the definition of Cirrus clouds?
Clouds that are thick, white and puffy. These clouds are found in fair weather and at medium heights in the atmosphere.
What is the definition of Cumulus clouds?
It is made up of millions of tiny water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere.
What is the definition of a cloud?
The never ending movement of water from Earth's surface to its atmosphere and back again.
What is the water cycle?
The kinetic energy measured by temperature when molecules move.
What is thermal energy?
