| A | B |
|---|
| atmosphere | the layers of gases that surround the Earth |
| troposphere | the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface |
| insolation | the amount of the Sun's energy that reaches Earth at a given time and place |
| air pressure | the force exerted on a given area by the weight of the air above it |
| convection cell | a circular pattern of rising air, sinking air, and wind |
| sea breeze | wind that blows from the sea to the land |
| land breeze | wind that blows from the land to the water |
| Coriolis effect | the shift in winds to the right or left caused by the Earth's rotation |
| evaporation | changing a liquid to a gas |
| condensation | changing a gas to a liquid |
| humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air |
| stratus clouds | clouds with blanket like layers |
| cumulus clouds | billowy and puffy clouds that rise from flat bottoms |
| cirrus clouds | clouds with wispy and feather-like shapes |
| tornado | a violent and whirling wind that moves across the ground in a narrow path |
| hurricane | a large swirling storm with low pressure at the center that forms over oceans |
| isobar | a line on a weather map that connects places with equal air pressure |
| air mass | a large region of the atmoshpere in which the air has similar properties throughout |
| front | the boundary between where two air masses meet |
| cold front | cold air moves in under a warm air mass |
| warm front | warm air moves in over a cold air mass |
| occluded front | a cold front catches up with a warm front |
| rain shadow | a region on the side of a mountain where air becomes dry and descends (goes down) |
| sunspot | a dark area that appears temporarily on the Sun's surface |
