Weather and Climate Flashcards
weather
The daily record of changes in precipitation, sky conditions, and temperature.
We can track the weather over short periods of time. Weather can change hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly. The weather today is wet and cold with cloudy skies.
climate
The average, long-term record of weather for a specific region. Climate determines which plants and animals can survive and thrive in a region.
We can track climate patterns by seasons, years, decades, and centuries. The climate of the desert is hot and dry.
water cycle
The movement of water through the environment driven by the energy of the Sun.
The water cycle renews water in our environment through evaporation, condensation, transpiration, precipitation, run-off, and percolation.
evaporation
water becoming a gas by adding thermal energy.
Water evaporates from the ocean due to the Sun’s thermal energy.
condensation
gas turning into a liquid as it cools
Water vapor condenses in the atmosphere and forms clouds. Condensation also forms on the outside of a cold drink on a hot day.
transpiration
the release of water into the atmosphere through a plant’s leaves.
Transpiration happens during photosynthesis leaving water on the leaves of a plant.
precipitation
rain, sleet, snow and hail
Precipitation is caused when the clouds become too heavy. The type of precipitation we get on a given day depends on the temperature outside.
run-off
water that is not absorbed into the ground and runs off the landforms after precipitation.
Run-off can cause rivers to over-flow and create floods.
wind
The movement of air above the earth’s surface caused by changes in temperature.
Wind is caused by air becoming warmer and rising then cooling and falling.
wind
The movement of air above the earth’s surface caused by changes in temperature.
