Science Vocabulary Flashcards
Air pressure
the force that air puts on an area
atmosphere
the layers of gases that surround a planet
barometer
a tool used to measure air pressure
barometric pressure
the pressure (force per unit area) of the atmosphere against a surface
Celsius
the metric temperature scale: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, and it freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
climate
the current or past long-term weather conditions characteristic of a region or the entire Earth.
cloud
a collection of water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere
cumulonimbus cloud
anvil-shaped cloud that is often involved in heavy or violent storms: Cumulonimbus clouds are also called thunderheads.
cumulus cloud
large, fluffy, white clouds, often seen in fair skies; can develop into cumulonimbus clouds
dew point
the temperature at which water vapor in the air condenses into water
drought
a prolonged shortage of rainfall
freezing point
the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid
hurricane
a storm with strong winds and rain that forms over tropical waters (related term: typhoon, tropical cyclone)
front
in weather, the boundary between two masses of air with different properties
funnel cloud
a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud: Funnel clouds do not touch the ground.
global warming
the slow warming of Earth’s atmosphere due to climatic change
hail
small, icy balls that fall from the sky
humidity
the measure of how much water vapor is in the air
meteorology
the study of patterns of weather
precipitation
water that is released from clouds in the sky; includes rain, snow, sleet, hail, and freezing rain
thunder
a loud noise that happens when lightning heats the air and causes it to expand and contract quickly
Thunderstorm
a weather system that produces heavy precipitation, winds, lightning, and thunder
tornado
a funnel-shaped cloud or column of air that rotates at high speeds and extends downward from a cloud to the ground
tropical depression
a region of low pressure with counter-clockwise wind rotation that develops into a hurricane or tropical storm
typhoon
a hurricane or tropical storm originating in the Pacific Ocean
weather
the properties of the atmosphere at a given time and location, including temperature, air movement and precipitation
