Weather & Climate Flashcards
Solid
The state of matter in which molecules are locked together in bonds.
Liquid
The state of matter in which molecules are freed from their bonds but still “tumble” around each other, attracting and repelling each other. Liquids fill the shape of the container they are in.
Gas
The state of matter in which molecules are more energetic and move more freely than liquids. The atoms do not attract each other like in liquids. Gases also fill the container they are put in (depends).
Water Cycle
The water cycle is the process of water moving around the Earth in different states.
Evaporation
Molecules in a liquid state gain energy (for example, being heated by the sun) and become more energized, escaping into the air as a gas.
Transpiration
Transpiration is the process by which water is lost from a plant through its stomata, leaves, and stems.
Condensation
The process of molecules in a gas state becoming denser, clumping together, and forming stronger bonds–becoming a liquid.
Precipitation
Precipitation is water up in the atmosphere falling back towards earth. This can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
Infiltration
Infiltration is the process by which water enters the soil.
Runoff
Runoff is when infiltration reaches a point where it fills up all of the soil bed. With no more soil to absorb the water, it becomes runoff, water that travels along the surface.
Ground Water
Ground water is the water contained in the soil, or between rock spaces.
Surface Water
Surface water is fresh water present on the surface, such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and creeks.
Cold Front
A cold front is when a cold airmass pushes a warmer airmass out of the way. The warmer airmass is shoved upward, while the cold airmass tends to stay at the bottom. Cold fronts tend to move pretty quickly.
Warm Front
A warm front is when a warm airmass pushes a colder airmass out of the way. Warm air masses shift above colder air masses and move more gradually.
Occluded Front
An occluded front is when you have a warm, cooler, and cold air mass that all meet. The cooler air pushes the warmer air up into the atmosphere, so the temperature drops.
Stationary Front
A stationary front is when two airmasses meet but neither move. They are equally pushing each other until one eventually pushes over the other.
Density
Density is a way to measure a substance’s mass per unit of volume (d = m/v).