weather Flashcards
condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place
weather
weather conditions in a geographic region over a long time
climate
a measurement of heat
temperature
earths atmosphere traps heat energy in a process called what
greenhouse affect
evidence that shows that earth has gotten warmer in recent decades
global warming
winds around the centers of low atmospheric pressure
cyclones
winds that blow from the same direction most of the time
prevailing winds
areas with no prevailing winds
doldrums
zone between two air masses of widely different temperatures or moisture levels
front
process by which liquid changes to gas
evaporation
the amount of water vapor in the air
humidity
the process by which water vapor changes from a gas into liquid droplets
condensation
cooling effect that occurs when air is forced to rise over a mountain, resulting in a wetter wind-ward and a dryer leewards side
orthographic effect
a drier area on the leeward side of a mountain rain
rain shadow
violent twisting spiral of air
tornadoes
the term for hurricanes in the western pacific ocean
typhoons
communities of plants and animals
ecosystems
a wind system in which winds reverse directions and cause seasons of wet and dry weather
monsoons
areas of tropical grasslands scattered trees and shrubs
savannas
dry
arid
forrests made up of trees that loose their leaves during part of the year
deciduous forrest
forrests of cone bearing evergreen trees
coniferous forrest
permanently frozen soil below the grounds surface
permafrost
