Vocab

Question 0

Cirrus

Answer 0

Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels.

Question 1

Condensation

Answer 1

The change of state from a gas to a liquid.

Question 2

Relative humidity

Answer 2

The percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor that air can contain at a particular temperature.

Question 3

Dew point

Answer 3

The temperature at which condensation begins.

Question 4

Psychrometer

Answer 4

An instrument used to measure relative humidity.

Question 5

Water cycle

Answer 5

The continual movement of water among Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Question 6

Evaporation

Answer 6

The process by which molecules at the surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change to a gas.

Question 7

Stratus

Answer 7

Clouds that form in flat layers and often cover much of the sky.

Question 9

Humidity

Answer 9

The amount of water vapor in a given volume of air.

Question 10

Cumulus

Answer 10

Fluffy, white clouds, usually with flat bottoms, that look like rounded piles of cotton.

Question 11

Precipitation

Answer 11

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Question 12

Rain guage

Question 13

Flood

Answer 13

An overflowing of water in a normally dry area.

Question 14

Drought

Question 15

Air mass

Answer 15

A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at any given height.

Question 16

Tropical (air mass)

Answer 16

A warm air mass that forms in the tropics and has low air pressure.

Question 17

Polar (air mass)

Answer 17

A cold air mass that forms north of 50° north latitude or south of 50° south latitude and has high air pressure.

Question 18

Maritime

Answer 18

A humid air mass that forms over oceans.

Question 19

Continental

Answer 19

A dry air mass that forms over land.

Question 20

Jet streams

Answer 20

Bands of high-speed winds about 10 kilometers above Earth’s surface.

Question 21

Front

Answer 21

The boundary where unlike air masses meet but do not mix.

Question 22

Occluded

Question 23

Cyclone

Question 24

Anticyclone

Answer 24

A high-pressure center of dry air.

Question 25

Storm

Question 26

Thunderstorm

Question 27

Lightning

Question 28

Hurricane.

Answer 28

A tropical storm that has winds of about 119 kilometers per hour or higher.

Question 29

Storm surge

Question 30

Tornado

Answer 30

A rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down to touch Earth’s surface.

Question 31

Evacuate

Question 32

Meteorologist

Question 33

Isobar

Question 34

Isotherm

Answer 34

A line on a weather map that joins places that have the same temperature.