Weather Quiz Flashcards
Water cycle (definition)
The movement of water through Earth’s systems, powered by the sun’s energy
humidity
a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air
relative humidity
the percentage of water vapor that is actually in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a particular temperature
psychrometer
An instrument used to measure relative humidity
How does a psychrometer work?
It has a wet-bulb and a dry-bulb thermometer, the wet-bulb is covered by a moist cloth, when the psychrometer is slung air blows over both thermometers, the relative humidity can be found by comparing the temperatures of the wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers
dew point
the temperature at which condensation begins
cirrus clouds
wispy, and feathery clouds at high altitudes
altocumulus and altostratus
medium level clouds that indicate precipitation
cumulus clouds
low level clouds that look like cotton that indicate thunderstorms
fog
clouds that form near the ground
cirrocumulus clouds
mid level clouds that indicate storms and look like cotton
stratus
dull flat layer clouds that look gray
nimbus clouds
clouds that produce precipitation
precipitation definition
any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface
What are the 5 types of precipitation?
sleet, hail, snow, freezing rain, rain
What is sleet?
Ice particles smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter
What is hail?
a round pellet of ice larger then 5 millimeters in diameter
What is snow?
water vapor in a cloud that is converted directly into ice crystals
What is freezing rain?
rain drops that fall as liquid, but freeze when they touch a cold surface
What is rain (definition)?
moisture condensed from the atmosphere that falls visibly in separate drops.
What is a rain gauge?
An open ended tube that collects rain
What is a flood?
An overflowing of water normally in a dry area
What is a drought?
A long period of scarce rain or dry weather
What is an air mass?
a huge body of air in the lower atmosphere that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at any given height
What are the four types of air masses?
Tropical, Polar, Maritime, and Continental