Weather & Climate unit vocab

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc. (short term conditions)

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over time (long term averages)

Question 3

Heat

Answer 3

the transfer of kinetic energy from one medium or object to another, or from an energy source to a medium or object. Such energy transfer can occur in three ways: radiation, conduction, and convection.

Question 4

Temperature

Answer 4

a measure of how hot or cold something is

Question 5

Radiant energy

Answer 5

energy that is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation

Question 6

Air mass

Answer 6

a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at any given height

Question 7

Front

Answer 7

(meteorology) the atmospheric phenomenon created at the boundary (dividing line) between two different air masses

Question 8

Jet Stream

Answer 8

narrow belt of strong winds that blows near the top of the troposphere

Question 9

Anemometer

Answer 9

a gauge for recording the speed and direction of wind

Question 10

Hygrometer

Answer 10

measures relative humidity

Question 11

Barometer

Answer 11

An instrument used to measure changes in air pressure

Question 12

Humidity

Answer 12

the amount of water vapor in the air

Question 13

Relative humidity

Answer 13

the percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold

Question 14

Dew Point

Answer 14

the temperature at which condensation begins

Question 15

Heat Index

Answer 15

a number that reflects a combination of high temperatures and high humidity

Question 16

Wind Chill

Answer 16

A measure of cooling combining temperature and wind speed

Question 17

Ozone

Answer 17

a form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of two; protects us from dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the sun

Question 18

Weather System

Answer 18

the movement of warm and cold air across the globe

Question 19

Low pressure weather system

Answer 19

usually brings warm and stormy weather

Question 20

High pressure weather system

Answer 20

usually brings dry and clear weather.

Question 21

Low pressure direction

Answer 21

low pressure systems result in rainy weather and spin counterclockwise in direction

Question 22

High pressure direction

Answer 22

high pressure systems result in fair weather and spin clockwise in direction

Question 23

Isotherm

Answer 23

line on a map connecting points equal temperature values

Question 24

Isobar

Answer 24

a line on a weather map that joins places that have the same air pressure