study guide for weather quiz

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

• Weather is a condition of the atmosphere at a specific time and place
• Example: It is raining outside today.

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

• Climate is the average weather over a long period of time.
• Examples: California’s Mojave desert has a hot, dry climate.

Question 3

Meteorologist

Answer 3

A scientist who studies the atmosphere to predict and understand Earth’s weather

Question 4

Weather Forecast

Answer 4

A scientific prediction of upcoming weather conditions.

Question 5

Air temperature

storm / list examples + intstrument/unit?

Answer 5

• A measure of how hot or cold the atmosphere is.
• Often before a storm, the temperature drops. The temperature tells what form of precipitation a storm may bring.
• Above freezing -> rain
• Below freezing -> snow, sleet, hail
• Instrument and unit: thermometer and fahrenheit/celsius

Question 6

Air pressure

list examples + intstrument/unit?

Answer 6

• Weight of a column of air pressing down on an area
• When the air pressure on the barometer rises, it indicates clear, fair weather
• When the air pressure on the barometer falls, it indicates rain or stormy weather
• Instrument and unit: barometer and inches of mercury and milibars

Question 7

Wind

Answer 7

• Movement of air from a high air pressure area to a low pressure area.
• Before storms, often the wind speed and direction change.
• Wind speed can help predict how strong a storm will be. Wind direction helps us determine the direction it is moving.
• Instrument and unit: anemometer (km/hr/mph) and wind vane (NESW)

Question 8

Humidity

Instrument and unit?

Answer 8

• The amount of water vapor in a given amount of air
• Humidity is factor involved in cloud formation and precipitation
• Humidity affects how the temperature feels
• Instrument and unit: hydrometer and %

Question 9

Precipitation

Answer 9

• The water that condenses from water vapor in the atmosphere. It falls as rain, sleet, snow or hail.
• Instrument and unit: rain gauge and millimeters/inches

Question 10

Dew Point

has to do with humidity and cloud formation

Answer 10

• The temperature at which the humidity reaches 100%
• When you reach the dew point, cloud formation begins. If the dew point is near the ground, it becomes foggy. When the dew point is below freezing, frost forms.