| A | B |
|---|
| Meteorologist | Studies weather |
| Conduction | The direct transfer of heat energy from one substance to another |
| convection | The transfer of heat in a fluid |
| convection currents | Caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere |
| radiation | transfer of energy in the form of waves |
| greenhouse effect | Gasses forming a "heat blanket" |
| barometer | Measures air pressure |
| air pressure | Varies according to density |
| Standard pressure | Zero degrees Celsius at sea level |
| winds | Formed when air moves from area of high pressure to low |
| sea breeze | Flow of air from sea to land |
| land breeze | Flow of air from land to sea |
| monsoon | A type of seasonal wind |
| coriolis effect | A shift in the path of any object traveling north to south |
| Doldrums | Belt of warm air around the equator with low pressure |
| horse latitudes | About 30 degrees north and south latitude |
| trade winds | Warm air that has dropped and cooled and is heading back to the equator |
| prevailing westerlies | Sinking air moving towards the poles |
| polar easterlies | Very cold air flowing towards the equator from the poles |
| humidity | The amount of water vapor in the air |
| relative humidity | The amount of water in the air compared to the amount the air can hold |
| dew point | Temperature at which water vapor turns to liquid |
| cumulus | This puffy clouds form shapes |
| cumulonimbus | Thunderclouds |
| stratus | Gray, smooth clouds that cover the entire sky |
| nimbostratus | gray, smooth clouds that produce rain or snow |
| cirrus | Very high, feathery clouds |
| air masses | Large masses of air with the same consistency through out |
| maritime tropical | air mass that forms over the ocean near the equator |
| maritime polar | Air mass that forms over the North Pacific and Atlantic |
| continental polar | Air mass that has cold dry air and forms over northern Canada |
| continental tropical | Hot dry air over Mexico and Southern US |
| front | Forms when two air masses meet. |
| cold front | Forms when cold air replaces warm air |
| warm front | Forms when warm air moves over cold air |
| occluded front | When a cold front overtakes a warm front |
| stationary front | When warm air meets cold air and no movement occurs |
| cyclone | Area of low pressure containing rising warm air |
| anticyclone | A high pressure area containing cold dry air |
| isobars | Curved lines connecting locations that have the same barometric pressure |
| isotherms | Curved lines connecting locations that have teh same temperature |
| climate | The characteristic of the weather in a region over a long period of time |
| polar zone | Extends from the pole to about 60 degrees latitude |
| temperate zone | Located between 30 and 60 degrees latitude |
| tropical zone | Located from 30 degrees latitude to the equator |
