Weather Flashcards
the force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air
Air pressure
the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet
Atmosphere
an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.
Barometer
the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, which at sea level has a mean value of 101,325 pascals
barometric pressure
of or denoting a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under standard conditions.
Celsius
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
Climate
a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground.
Cloud
a dense towering vertical cloud associated with thunderstorms and atmospheric instability, forming from water vapor carried by powerful upward air currents.
cumulonimbus cloud
puffy clouds that sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton.
cumulus cloud
the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form.
Dew point
a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water resulting from this.
Drought
the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled.
Freezing point
a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.
Hurricane
a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena outside the tropics.
Front
a rotating funnel-shaped cloud forming the core of a tornado or waterspout.
Funnel cloud
a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.
Global warming
pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.
Hail
the measure of how much water vapor is in the air
Humidity
the study of patterns of weather
Meteorology
water that is released from clouds in the sky; includes rain, snow, sleet, hail, and freezing rain
Precipitation
a loud noise that happens when lightning heats the air and causes it to expand and contract quickly
Thunder
a weather system that produces heavy precipitation, winds, lightning, and thunder
Thunderstorm
a funnel-shaped cloud or column of air that rotates at high speeds and extends downward from a cloud to the ground
Tornado
a region of low pressure with counter-clockwise wind rotation that develops into a hurricane or tropical storm
Tropical depression
a hurricane or tropical storm originating in the Pacific Ocean
Typhoon
the properties of the atmosphere at a given time and location, including temperature, air movement and precipitation
Weather
