Weather And Climate Flashcards
Air pressure
Air pressure is the weight of air molecules pressing down on the Earth. The pressure of the air molecules changes as you move upward
Tropical
places found on or close to the Equator are typically tropical: they’re warm and wet
Celsius
a scale for measuring temperature, in which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees
Cumulous cloud
puffy clouds that look like puffs of cotton
Cirrus cloud
short, detached, hair-like clouds found at high altitudes
Thermometer
a device that measures temperature
Tropical depression
a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph (33 knots) or less
Ocean current
the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density
Dew point
the temperature the air needs to be cooled to (at constant pressure) in order to achieve a relative humidity (RH) of 100%
Hurricane
a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more
Desert
arid land with usually sparse vegetation especially
Typhoon
a tropical cyclone with winds faster than 74 miles per hour
Humidity
the amount of water vapor in the air
Forecast
a technique that uses historical data as inputs to make informed estimates that are predictive in determining the direction of future trends
Atmosphere
the whole mass of air that surrounds the earth.
Hail
pellets of frozen rain which fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.
Thunderstorm
storm caused by strong rising air currents and characterized by thunder and lightning and usually heavy rain or hail
Cloud
a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (such as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet
Precipitation
water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Drought
prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water
Front
a transition zone between two different air masses at the Earth’s surface
Meteorology
the branch of science concerned with the processes and phenomena of the atmosphere, especially as a means of forecasting the weather
Freezing point
the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled.
Tornado
a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system
