weather Flashcards
weather
the set of environmental conditions measured day to day
climate
the set of environmental conditions averaged over many years
altitude
the height above the sea measured in km or m
prevailing winds
affects larger areas. these high speed winds carry solar energy to colder parts of the world and changes direction depending on the earth’s rotation
condensation
water vapor \ liquid
fog
a cloud that forms near the ground when two fronts meet/warm air passing over snow
floods
excess water from rain, rivers or oceans over land that cannot be absorbed
typhoons
a cyclone that occurs in the northwestern pacific ocean or the china sea
el nino
a shift in the ocean currents
water temperature becomes warmer in the tropical pacific ocean
ice storms
snow that falls through warm air. on its path to the ground it melts into rain
rain passes through cold air and once it hits something it freezes on contact
weather system
a set of temperature, wind, pressure and moisture conditions in a certain area
evaporation
liquid \ water vapor
precipitation
rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls to the ground (basically any form of rain)
thunderstorms
moisture and high winds are needed to form clouds and precipitation
droughts
a long period of time with much less rainfall than average
tropical cyclone
a cyclone that occurs in the Indian Ocean or Australia
la nina
a shift in the ocean currents
water temperature becomes colder in the tropical pacific ocean
global warming
a slow increase of global temperatures caused by greenhouse gases that trap the heat from the sun, affecting the earth in many negative ways
atmosphere
a blanket of air and moisture that surround the earth
wind
movement of air in the atmosphere
sublimation
solid \ vapor
transpiration
passage of water vapor from a living body
tornadoes
occurs during severe thunderstorms
forms by a front
winds combine, creating a funnel that touches the ground
blizzard
a severe storm with winds of 55km or higher with blowing snow
