Weather and Climate Flashcards
Air Mass
A large body of air with uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure, which can cover thousands of square kilometers.
Air pressure
The force exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere on a surface, measured in millibars (mb) using a barometer.
Anticyclone
A high-pressure system where air moves outward and clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere), bringing dry and settled weather.
Atmosphere
The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, which protects life by absorbing harmful solar radiation and regulating temperature.
Climate
The average weather conditions of a place over a long period (usually 30 years), including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.
Condensation
The process by which water vapor cools and changes into liquid droplets, forming clouds, dew, or fog.
Convectional rainfall
Rainfall caused by the intense heating of the Earth’s surface, which makes air rise, cool, and condense into clouds, often leading to heavy showers and thunderstorms.
Depression
A low-pressure weather system characterized by rising air, clouds, wind, and precipitation, commonly associated with unsettled and stormy weather.
Drought
A prolonged period of little or no rainfall, leading to water shortages and dry conditions.
Evaporation
The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas (water vapor) due to heat from the sun.
Fog
A thick cloud of tiny water droplets that forms close to the ground, reducing visibility.
Front
A boundary between two air masses of different temperatures and densities, often bringing changes in weather.
Frontal Rainfall
Rainfall that occurs when a warm air mass meets a cold air mass, forcing the warm air to rise, cool, and condense, forming clouds and precipitation.
Humidity
The amount of water vapor present in the air, usually expressed as a percentage.
Isotherm
A line on a weather map that connects places with the same temperature.
Jet stream
A fast-flowing ribbon of air high in the atmosphere, which influences weather patterns and the movement of weather systems.
Micro climate
The climate of a small, specific area that differs from the surrounding climate, influenced by factors such as buildings, vegetation, and bodies of water.
North Atlantic Drift
A warm ocean current that extends from the Gulf Stream across the Atlantic Ocean, warming the climate of Western Europe.
Precipitation
Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from clouds to the Earth’s surface.
Prevailing Wind
The most common wind direction in a particular region, influenced by global wind patterns.
Relief Rainfall
Rainfall that occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain or hill, cooling and condensing to form clouds and precipitation
