Weather Flashcards
Air Pressure
The pressure caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area
Altitude
Elevation above sea level
Atmosphere
The relatively thin layer of gasses that form Earth’s outermost layer
Climate
Long term average of the weather for a particular place
Coastline
A line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake
Condensation
When water vapor becomes a liquid
Convection
The transfer of thermal energy/heat by the movement of a fluid
Coriolis effect
The effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents
Current
A large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans
Density
The amount of mass per unit volume (mass/volume)
Evaporation
When water in a liquid form becomes a gas (water vapor)
Global Conveyor Belt
A winding loop of deep ocean and surface currents - a worldwide circulation system
Humidity
Amount of water vapor held in the air
Latitude
Location north or south of the equator
Precipitation
When water in a liquid or solid form, falls from the atmosphere. Such as rain, snow, sleet, and hail - all precipitation that hits Earth’s surface
Temperature
Measure the average kinetic energy of molecules, amount of heat energy
Thermohaline Circulation
Ocean currents circulate due to differences in temperature and salinity. Thermo = temperature, Haline = salinity (salt contents)
Topography
The shape of the land determined by elevation, relief, and landforms
Transpiration
The process by which water is lost through a plant’s leaves
Weather
Conditions of the atmosphere at a certain time or place
Wind
The horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
