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Details

Station 5 Weathering Erosion
atmosphere
60
Meteorology
Not Applicable
11/18/2004

Additional Meteorology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Gases, Water, other liquides, and microscopic particles of solids
Definition
Items in the atmosphere
Term
Atmosphere
Definition
Layer of gases surrounding the Earth
Term
Nitrogen
Definition
78% in the atmosphere
Term
Oxygen
Definition
21 % in the atmosphere
Term
Water vapor
Definition
Responsible for clouds and precipitation
Term
Carbon dioxide
Definition
Keeps the Earth warm and is used by plants to make food
Term
Aerosols
Definition
Solids such as dust, salt, pollen, and tiny acid droplets in the atmosphere
Term
Humidity
Definition
The amount of water vapor in the air
Term
Temperature
Definition
Affects how much moisture is in the air
Term
Dewpoint
Definition
When the air is holding as much water vapor as it can
Term
Relative humidity
Definition
A measure of the amount of water vapor present compared to the amount that could be held at a specific temperature
Term
Troposhere
Definition
Atmosphere layer from the surface to about 10 km;contains clouds and weather, most of the heat is from the Earth; temperature cools about 6.5 degrees Celcius per kilometer of altitude
Term
Stratosphere
Definition
Atmosphere layer from 10 km to 50 km above the Earth, this layer contains ozone that absorbs much of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation
Term
Mesophere
Definition
Upper atmosphere layer; coldest with little ozone
Term
Thermosphere
Definition
Upper atmosphere layer; warms as it filters out X-rays and gamma rays from the Sun
Term
Exosphere
Definition
Upper atmosphere layer; contains few atoms and extends into space without a clear boundary
Term
Water
Definition
Makes up 70% of the Earth's surface
Term
Water cycle
Definition
Constant motion of water; never ending process
Term
Sun
Definition
Provides energy for the water cycle
Term
Evaporation
Definition
Changing of a liquid to a gas; occurs from all bodies of water
Term
Condensation
Definition
Changing from a gas (water vapor) to a liquid
Term
Precipitation
Definition
Clouds of water become heavy and water falls to Earth
Term
Weather
Definition
Atmosphere's condition in terms of temperature, cloud cover, wind speed, and direction, humidity, and air pressure.
Term
Temperature
Definition
Measure of how fast air molecules are moving
Term
High temperature
Definition
Rapid movement of air molecules
Term
Low temperature
Definition
Slow movement of air molecules
Term
Energy
Definition
Transferred between fast-moving and slow moving molecules
Term
Conduction
Definition
Transfer of energy when molecules collide
Term
Convection
Definition
Occurs when warm air rises and cool air sinks
Term
Air pressure
Definition
Air weight that varies over Earth's surface
Term
Warmer air
Definition
Less dense and exerts less pressure
Term
Cooler air
Definition
More dense and exerts more pressure
Term
Clouds
Definition
Form when air rises, colls to its dew point, and becomes saturated
Term
Cumulus clouds
Definition
Puffy clouds formed when air currents rise and carry moisture
Term
Stratus clouds
Definition
Layered dull, gray sheets that can cover the entire sky
Term
Nimbostratus clouds
Definition
Low, dark, thick layers that hide the Sun
Term
Low clouds
Definition
Form at 2000 meters or less
Term
Middle clouds
Definition
Form between 2000 meters and 8000 meters
Term
Alto-
Definition
Prefix of middle clouds; these clouds produce precipitation
Term
Cirrus clouds
Definition
Wispy, high level clouds
Term
Cirrostratus clouds
Definition
High,layered clouds that can cover the sky
Term
Cumulonimbus clouds
Definition
Thunderstorm clouds; produce heavy precipitation
Term
Precipitation
Definition
Falling water in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Term
Wind
Definition
Air moving from one temperature or pressure area to another
Term
Coriolis effect
Definition
Deflected air moves to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere
Term
Surface winds
Definition
Include the trade winds near the equator, the prevailing westerlies from about 30 degrees latitude north andsouth of the equator, and the polar easterlies near the poles
Term
Jet streams
Definition
Bands of strong winds near the top of the troposphere at the northern and southern boundaries of the prevailing westerlies
Term
Air masses
Definition
Large body of air that develops over a particular region; it acquires the haracteristics of the area over which it occurs
Term
Front
Definition
Boundary between air masses
Term
Cold front
Definition
Cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass and can cause a narrow band of viloent storms; temperatures drop
Term
Warm front
Definition
Warm air mass slides up over a cold air mass; widespread precipitation develops
Term
Stationary front
Definition
Warm air mass and cold air mass meet but neither advances; cloudiness and precipitation result
Term
Occluded front
Definition
Fast moving cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front or vice versa; cloudy weather with precipitation
Term
High pressure
Definition
Air sinks and spreads away from the high pressure center; mositure cannot rise and condense; usually dry with few clouds
Term
Low pressure
Definition
Air rises and cools forming clouds and precipitation
Term
Severe weather
Definition
Causes strong winds and heavy precipitation; can threaten property or life
Term
Thunderstorms
Definition
Develop from cumulonimbus clouds that form along cold fronts; can have strong wind, dangerous hail, lightning and thunder
Term
Tornado
Definition
Violent, whirling wind that moves in a narrow path over land
Term
Hurricane
Definition
Large strrm that begins as an area of low pressure over tropical oceans; heat energy from mosit air is converted to wind that can reach speeds of 250 km/h
Term
National Weather Service
Definition
Monitors weather and issues watches when severe weather is a potential threat and warnings when severe weather is an actual threat
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