| A | B |
|---|
| meteorology | science that deals with the study of weather |
| Meteorologist | scientist who studies weather |
| weather | condition of the atmosphere at a place from day to day |
| climate | weather from season to season |
| latitude | distance north or south of the Equator |
| Large bodies of water | water modifies climate cool in summer warm in winter |
| altitude | height above or below sea level |
| Mountains | act as a barrier |
| windward | rain falls on this side |
| leeward | tends to be warm and dry |
| wind patterns | direction the wind is coming from effects the climate |
| direct rays | sun strikes at 90 degrees get more heat especially at the Equator |
| slanting rays | sun strikes at less than 90 degrees at the Poles |
| Noon time | sun's rays are closest |
| insolation | radiant energy by which the sun's heat warms our atmosphere |
| dark colored objects | better absorbers |
| rough surfaces | better absorbers |
| land | good absorber |
| water | good reflector |
| summer | land heats up faster and it is hot |
| winter | land loses heat faster so land is colder |
| conduction | heat energy moves from atom to atom |
| convection | liquids and gases enegy is added density lowered atoms rise and take heat energy |
| radiation | works in a vacuum does not require a medium |
| air masses | large portions of the atmosphere that have th smae tmeperature and humidity |
| polar | forms in the cold polar areas |
| Continental polar | cold dry weather cP |
| Maritime polar | cold moist weather mP |
| Tropical | forms in warm areas |
| Continental tropical | warm dry weather cT |
| Maritime Tropicat | warm moist weather mT |
| Fronts | boundary between different types of air masses |
| Cold front | edge of cold air that pushes warm air ahead of it |
| Warm front | edge of warm air pushes cold air ahead |
| Stationary front | boundary between two air masses no movement |
| air pressure | air's weight |
| high pressure | heavy air causes nice weather |
| low pressure | light air that causes clouds and precipitation |
| Coriolis Effect | wind moves out of high pressure right clockwise, into low pressure counterclockwise |
| naming winds | winds are named for the direction they come from |
| Planetary Wind System | rotation and uneven heating of Earth causes wind and pressure belts |
| land breeze | wind moves from the land to the sea |
| sea breeze | wind moves from the sea to land |
| altitude increases | density weight or pressure decreases |
| Barometer | tool to measure air pressure |
| millibars | units used to measure air pressure |
| Daily Temperature Range | difference between the lowest and highest temperature |
| Humidity | gaseous water vapor in air |
| saturated | air is holding as much water vapor as it can |
| Dew Point | temperature at which air can hold as much water vapor |
| condenses | water vapor turns into liquid water |
| Relative Humidity | ratio of how much moisture is actually in the air compared to how much it could hold |
| fog | tiny droplets of water are suspended in the air |
| Cirrus clouds | thin clouds made of ice crystals |
| Stratus Clouds | low hanging clouds |
| Cumulus clouds | thing puffy clouds |
| precipitation | rain sleet hail snow |
| weather maps | show pressure systems and fronts that act together to produce changes in weather |
| weather station maps | air temp wind speed direction precipitation cloud types |
| symbols | point in the direction that the front is going |
| thunderstorm | violent storms with thunder and lightening |
| tornadoes | small frighteing storms with a funnel shaped cloud and high winds |
| hurricanes | low pressure areas with high winds and the center is the EYE |
| Air | 78%Nitrogen 21%Oxygen 1% water carbon dioxide gases |
| pollutants | substances in the atmosphere tha cause damage or harm |
| fossil fuels | oil gas gasoline |
| Greenhouse Effect | carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will make it warmer |
| natural pollutants | ash and dust from volcanoes, pollen, smoke from forest fires |
| pollution control | precipitation washes it out of the air, people controll |
