Ch 10 - Exploring the Weather Flashcards
What is weather?
The condition of the air in the atmosphere.
What is the layer of air that surrounds the earth called?
atmosphere
What three things cause weather?
heat, water, and wind
What does the earth absorb during the day?
The sun’s heat
What happens to the heat the earth has absorbed once night falls?
It radiates from the earth.
Define absorb
to soak up
Define radiate
to give off
What protects the earth from the dangerous rays of sunlight?
the atmosphere
Why is the sun the main cause of weather?
It heats the air, which rises, causing wind,
and it heats water, which forms water vapor, causing precipitation.
What does evaporate mean?
to change from a liquid into a gaseous state called vapor
In what three forms is water found in the air?
solid, liquid, and gas
Why does warm air rise?
It is lighter than cold air.
What is moving air called?
wind
Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are called…
precipitation
The earth and the air are always exchanging water with each other. This is called the…
water cycle
Why doesn’t rainwater that is evaporated from the ocean taste salty?
Only the water is evaporated. The salt stays in the ocean.
How do raindrops form?
Raindrops form when warm, moist air in a cloud meets cold air.
Is every raindrop the same size?
No
What is a raindrop first called?
a droplet
What does rain help to wash from the air?
dust, dirt, and pollen
What is frozen rain called?
sleet
What must happen before snowflakes can begin to form?
A water droplet must build around a tiny bit of dust.
What shape is a raindrop?
round
How do droplets grow large enough to form raindrops?
They bump into each other, forming larger droplets until they are large enough to fall as raindrops.
What forms when rain falls through freezing air?
sleet
Sleet ususally falls in what kind of weather?
cold weather
In what two seasons does hail fall?
spring and summer
Hail falls in what kind of storm?
a thunderstorm
What are the three most widely known storms in the United States?
thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes
What does humid mean?
There is a large amount of water vapor in the air.
How do you feel in humid weather?
sticky
What jumps from cloud to cloud or from a cloud to the earth to form lightning?
electricity
What is the sound that follows lightning called?
thunder
What is a windstorm that begins over the ocean, bringing very strong winds and heavy rains?
a hurricane (in Australia we call them cyclones)
What is the name of a windstorm that builds up over hot land and looks like a spinning, black funnel?
a tornado
What are the two safest places to be in a thunderstorm?
a building or a car
Explain what happens at each stage of the water cycle shown in the picture.
- The sun heats the water in the ocean
- The water evaporates
- The warm, moist air rises
- The air cools, forming a cloud
- The cloud cools, causing rain to fall
- The water is used on earth and returns to the ocean to beging the cycle again
