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Chapter 13 Vocabulary
Earth Science
21
Science
6th Grade
01/16/2009

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Term
water cycle
Definition
the continual movement of water among Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
Term
evaporation
Definition
the process by which water molecules in liquid water escape into the air as water vapor
Term
humidity
Definition
the amount of water vapor in a given volume of air
Term
condensation
Definition
the process by which molecules of water vapor in the air become liquid water
Term
dew point
Definition
the temperature at which condensation begins
Term
precipitation
Definition
any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface
Term
air mass
Definition
a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure throughout
Term
tropical (air mass)
Definition
a warm air mass that forms in the tropics and has low air pressure
Term
polar (air mass)
Definition
a cold air mass that forms north of 50° north latitude or south of 50° south latitude and has high air pressure
Term
maritime (air mass)
Definition
a humid air mass that forms over oceans
Term
continental (air mass)
Definition
a dry air mass that forms over land
Term
front
Definition
the boundary where unlike air masses meet but do not mix
Term
occluded
Definition
cut off, as in a front where warm air mass is caught between two cooler air masses
Term
cyclone
Definition
a swirling center of low air pressure
Term
anticyclone
Definition
a high-pressure of dry air
Term
storm
Definition
a violent disturbance in the atmosphere
Term
thunderstorm
Definition
a small storm often accompanied by heavy precipitation and frequent thunder and lightning
Term
lightning
Definition
a sudden spark, or energy discharge, caused when electrical charges jump between parts of a cloud, between nearby clouds, or between a cloud and the ground
Term
tornado
Definition
a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to touch Earth’s surface
Term
hurricane
Definition
a tropical storm that has winds of about 76 miles per hour or higher.
Term
meteorologist
Definition
a scientist who studies the causes of weather and tries to predict it
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