Weather Flashcards
Air ________ is the measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the air. Molecules in warm air move _________ than molecules in cooler air.
temperature
faster
_______ is the pressure that a column of air exerts on the air or surface below it.
air pressure
air pressure decreases as altitude ________
increases
A(n) ________ is an instrument used to measure air pressure.
barometer
______ is caused by air moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
wind
In a south wind, the wind is coming from the ______
south
The instrument used to measure wind speed is a(n) _____
anemometer
The amount of h2o vapor in the air is ____
humidity
When air is ________, it holds the max amt of h2o vapor possible at that ______
saturated
temperature
______ is the amt of h2o vapor in the air compared to the max amt of h2o vapor the air can hold at that temp
relative humidity
Relative humidity is reported as a(n) ______
percent
When air near the ground becomes saturated, the water vapor condenses into a liquid and forms ________
droplets
If the temp is below 0 degrees celcius, ice crystals, referred to as ______, form
frost
The temp at which air becomes fully saturated because the temp decreases while the amt of moisture stays constant is the _______
dew point
as warm air rises in the atmosphere, it ______
cools
When the air cools enough that the ______ is reached, small droplets of water form
dew pt
______ are water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere
clouds
______ is a cloud that forms near E’s surface
fog
_____ clouds are flat, white, and layered
stratus
_____ clouds are fluffy and are present at 2,000 to 6,000 m altitude
cumulus
_____ clouds are wispy and are present above 6,000 m altitude
cirrus
_____ is water, in liquid or solid form, that falls from the atmosphere
percipitation
Precipitation that falls as liquid water is ____
rain
Precipitation that is solid crystals of ice is ___
snow
Precipitation that starts as snow and then melts and freezes again is called _____
sleet
_______ is precipitation formed when ice pellets rise and fall within a cloud, adding new layers of ice during each cycle
hail
The ______ is the series of natural processes in which water continually moves among oceans, land, and the atmosphere
water cycle
water enters the atmosphere as h2o vapor when liquid h2o on E’s surface _____
evaporates
As h2o vapor cools, it _______, forming liquid h2o
rises and condenses
Clouds produce _____, which is when liquid or frozen h2o falls to E’s surface
precipitation
the atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes, make up the ______ of a certain place at a certain time
weather
scientists who study and predict weather are ____
meteorologists
A(n) _______ is a large body of circulating air that has low pressure at its center and higher pressure on the outside
low-pressure system
Air moves from _______ pressure to low pressure
high
In a low-pressure system, air moves away from the _______ of the system
center
Air in the center of the system ______, and the water vapor in it condenses and forms clouds
rises
A(n) ________ is a large body of circulating air that has high pressure at its center and lower pressure on the outside
high-pressure system
High-pressure air at the center _______ and moves toward low-pressure areas
sinks
High-pressure systems bring _____ skies
clear
______ are large bodies of air that have distinct temperature and moisture characteristics.
air masses
An air mass forms when a(n) ______ system lingers in one area for a few days.
high pressure
Continental polar air mass are ____ and _____
fast moving
dry
_____ air masses are warm and humid
Maritime Tropical
_____ air masses are very cold and dry. They form over ______ or arctic ice
Arctic
Siberia and the Arctic?
A weather ______ is the boundary between two air masses
front
A(n) ______ front forms when a colder air mass moves toward a warmer air mass. It often brings severe ______ and cooler temperatures
cold
storms
A(n) ______ front forms when a warmer air mass moves toward a cooler air mass
warm
As the warm air rises, h2o vapor condenses, and ______ often occurs
rain
A warm front brings ______ temperatures and shifting winds
warm
A(n) ______ front forms when the boundary between two air masses stalls. It brings _____ skies and light rain.
stationary
cloudy
A low-pressure system can provide the warm temps, moisture, and rising air needed for a(n) _____ to form
thunderstorms
The ______ stage of a thunderstorm starts with cloud formation and updrafts
cumulus
The _______ stage of a t-storm contains heavy winds, rain, and lightning
mature
During the _____ stage of a t-storm, wind and rain subside.
dissipation
Lightning is caused by oppositely ______ particles in clouds and on the ground.
charged
A violent, whirling column of air that contacts the ground is a(n) ____
TORNADO!
The atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes, make up the ________ of a certain place at a certain.
weather
Tornadoes form when updrafts from thunderstorms begin to ________
rotate
_______ is the name for the part of the United States that has the most tornadoes
Tornado Alley
A(n) _______ is an intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km per hour
Hurricane
hurricanes typically form in late summer over warm, tropical _______ and are the largest type of severe storm
oceans
When a hurricane moves over land or _______ water, it loses energy
colder
A(n) ______ is a severe winter storm, characterized by freezing temps., strong winds, and blowing snow
blizzard
The United States National Weather Service issues a(n) __________ when severe weather is possible. It issues a(n) ________ when severe weather is already occuring
watch
warning
Meteorologists measure ______ before making a forecast
conditions
A(n) _______ describes a set of weather measurements made on Earth’s surface
surface report
Measurements include temp, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, and wind _______ and _______
speed
direction
A(n) _________ describes wind, temp, and humidity conditions above Earth’s surface
upper-air report
A(n) ______ is a package of weather instruments that are carried into the atmosphere by a weather balloon
radiosonde
Satellites provide weather information by measuring the _______ given off by Earth and by taking photographs.
infrared energy
_______ images provide information about cloud height and temperature
infrared
_______ is a special form of radar that can be used to detect precipitation and approximate wind speeds
doppler radar
The ______ model displays many weather measurements for a specific location. It appears on ______
station
the book don’t say where it appears
Weather maps have ________, which are symbols made up of lines that connect places that have equal air pressure. These lines give information about _____
isobars
wind-speed
_______ are lines that connect places that have the same temp
isotherms
_______ are represented as lines w/ symbols on them
fronts
Modern weather forecasts are made with the help of ________
computer models
_______ are detailed computer programs that solve a set of complex mathematical formulas. The formulas predict _______, winds, precipitation, and types of clouds.
computer models
temperatures
series of processes through which water moves around the globe
water cycle
the amt of h2o vapor in the air compared to the max possible amt of h2o vapor the air can contain at that temp
relative humidity
energy an object has because of its motion
kinetic energy
atmospheric conditions at a certain place and time
weather
a quantity that can be changed
variable
a force exerted by a column of air
air pressure
the amt of h2o vapor in the air
humidity
boundary at which h2o vapor becomes liquid h2o
dew point
_______ includes rain, snow, and sleet
precipitation
a large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system
high-pressure system
a large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and higher pressure outside of the system
low-pressure system
a large area of air that has uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure
air mass
a boundary between two air masses
front
a violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground
TORNADO!
an intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km/hr
hurricane
a violent winter storm characterized by freezing temperatures, strong winds, and blowing snow
blizzard
a description of a set of weather measurements made on Earth’s surface
surface report
a description of wind, temperature, and humidity conditions above Earth’s surface
upper-air report
a specialized type of radar that can detect precipitation as well as the movement of small particles, which can be used to approximate wind speed
Doppler radar
lines that connect all places on a map where pressure has the same value
isobar
detailed computer programs that solve a set of complex mathematical formulas
computer model
what instrument measures air pressure
barometer
what is air pressure measured in
millibars
what measures wind speed
anemometer
what is humidity measured in
grams of water per cubic meter of air (g/m^3)
what instrument measures relative humidity
psychrometer
what is relative humidity measured in
percent
list steps of wate cycle
evaporation, condensation, precipitation
clouds form when water changes from _____ to ______
gas to liquid
what type of precipitation reaches Earth’s surface as large pellets of ice
hail
what kind of clouds are wispy and at high altitudes
cirrus
what sinking air situation usually brings fair weather?
high-pressure system
what diagram shows surface weather measurements?
a station model
what does doppler radar measure?
The speed at which precipitation travels
What else should you do to study?
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