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Weather
Definitions and Facts
82
Science
5th Grade
10/17/2013

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Cards

Term
Bernoulli's principle
Definition
As speed increases, pressure decreases
Term
Atmosphere
Definition
A thin blanket of gases and dust particles
Term
What does the atmosphere do?
Definition
1. Protects the surface
2. Lets in the right amount of energy from the sun
3. Prevents extreme weather differences
Term
What are the main gases in AIR?
Definition
nitrogen (78%)
oxygen (21%)
carbon dioxide and other gases (1%)
Term
Can you see or feel gases?
Definition
No
Term
What is the purpose of dust particles?
Definition
Dust particles help water droplets and ice crystals in the clouds form rain, snow and other types of precipitation
Term
What force holds the atmosphere close to the earth?
Definition
Gravity
Term
Sea level
Definition
The average level of the surface of the ocean between high and low tides
Term
True or False
The terms atmosphere and air are the same
Definition
False
The atmosphere is a gaseous layer that surrounds the earth composed of air and other particles such as dust
Air is the mixture of gases found in the atmosphere
Term
Air pressure
Definition
The weight of the air; each square inch has 14.7 lb. of pressure
Term
True or False
Air pressure is greatest further from the earth's surface
Definition
False
Air pressure is that greatest at the surface of the earth
Term
Altitude
Definition
The measurement of the distance above sea level
Term
What can affect air pressure?
Definition
Altitude and temperature changes
Term
Barometer
Definition
An instrument used to measure air pressure
Term
Why is it useful to know about air pressure?
Definition
To predict weather, to fly a plane
Term
Troposphere
Definition
Layer of atmosphere closest to earth
Responsible for holding in radiant heat to keep earth warm
Contains particles and water droplets that affect weather
Term
Weather
Definition
Condition of the atmosphere
Term
Stratosphere
Definition
2nd layer of the atmosphere
Here the temperature increases as altitude increases
Term
Ozone layer
Definition
Upper part of stratosphere; Ozone is a from of oxygen..protects surface of earth from sun's radiation
Term
Mesophere
Definition
higher layers of atmosphere; meteors burn up in the mesosphere
Term
What are 2 other layers furthest from the earth's surface?
Definition
Thermosphere and exosphere
Term
What layer would you find weather and communication satellites?
Definition
Thermosphere
Term
Wind
Definition
moving air
Term
Air mass
Definition
large body of air that has nearly the same temperature and moisture
Term
High pressure air mass
Definition
* air pressure of dense, cool air
*because of its density, it is hard to hold until moisture so high pressure air masses are cool and dry
*Generally move towards the surface of the earth
Term
Low pressure air mass
Definition
light, warm air that contains moisture
Term
front
Definition
The boundary of 2 unlike air masses
Term
What are 3 types of fronts
Definition
Cold, Warm and Stationary
Term
Does a cold air mass usually push under or over a warm air mass?
Definition
Under
Term
What type of weather does a cold front bring?
Definition
Rain, possibly thunderstorms and hail followed by cool, dry weather
Term
Does a cold or warm front move faster?
Definition
Cold
Term
What type of weather does a warm front bring?
Definition
light rain or fog followed by warm moist weather
Term
Stationary fronts
Definition
Do not move
Term
Global winds
Definition
Move in large circular belts around the earth
Term
Provide examples of global winds?
Definition
Trade winds, prevailing westerlies and polar easterlies
Term
What causes wind?
Definition
Changes in temperature
Term
What happens to temperature of air as it rises?
Definition
It cools
Term
Local winds
Definition
Influenced by temp changes in small areas
Term
What causes land and water to heat?
Definition
sun
Term
Which cools faster? land or water?
Definition
Land
Term
What are examples of local winds?
Definition
sea breezes, land breezes, mountain winds
Term
Why do breezes blow in from the water during the day?
Definition
Land is warmer than water; air over the land rises and cooler air moves in to replace it
Term
Why do the breezes switch at night?
Definition
The air over water is warmer so the air moves toward the water
Term
Wind vane (weather vane)
Definition
Shows direction of wind
Term
Anometer
Definition
Measures speed of wind
Term
What is another way to measure wind speed?
Definition
Beaufort scale
Term
Is air less dense in a valley or mountain
Definition
Mountain
Term
Precipitation
Definition
any type of moisture that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground i.e. snow, rain, hail, sleet
Term
What determines the size of rain drops?
Definition
temperature, wind, air fronts and type of clouds
*Most raindrops are round and slightly flat
Term
Dew point
Definition
is the temp at which water vapor in the air reaches a saturation point
Term
What causes freezing rain?
Definition
When the air is above freezing but the temp of the earth's surface is below freezing
Term
As the temperature decreases, what happens to the size of snowflakes?
Definition
become smaller
Term
True or False
Hail usually falls cold weather
Definition
False
Term
True or False
Dew and frost are forms of precipitation
Definition
False
They do not fall from the sky; instead they are formed from condensed water vapor on earth
Term
Humidity
Definition
Water vapor in the atmosphere
Term
Which can hold more moisture? Warm or cool air
Definition
warm air
Term
How do clouds form?
Definition
From condensed water vapor or ice crystals
Term
How are clouds classified?
Definition
By shape and altitude
Term
What are 3 basic shapes of clouds?
Definition
Cumulus, stratus and cirrus
Term
What are nimbus clouds?
Definition
Clouds that form precipitation
Term
What the most familiar type of clouds?
Definition
Cumulus which are big and fluffy also known as fair weather clouds that bring sunny, pleasant weather
Term
What are thunderstorm clouds called?
Definition
Cumulonimbus clouds
Term
What do cirrus clouds look like?
Definition
thin, curly clouds high in the sky
Term
Who created a cloud classification system?
Definition
Luke Howard
Term
meteorology
Definition
the study of weather
Term
Which type of cloud is lowest in the sky?
Definition
Stratus
Term
Which type of cloud is the highest in the sky?
Definition
Cirrus
Term
Thunderstorm
Definition
When a large swift moving warm air mass meets a cold air mass
Term
Lightning
Definition
Created when during a storm, air temps change quickly and air movement is strong causing friction

Is a type of static electricity
Term
What is the temperature of lightning?
Definition
30,000 Celsius
Term
What is thunder?
Definition
Vibrations caused by the rapid heat change when lightning heats the air around it
Term
Where is Tornado Alley?
Definition
Central plains and Southeast...Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska
Term
Tornado
Definition
A funnel shaped cloud of swirling wind that reaches the ground; can reach speeds of 250 mph
Term
Hurricane
Definition
spiraling winds that form over the ocean
Term
Typhoon
Definition
what hurricanes are called in the western Pacific Ocean
Term
What are some other examples of severe weather?
Definition
Blizzards, heat waves
Term
Blizzard
Definition
snowstorm with strong freezing winds and blowing snow...makes it difficult to see
Term
Heat wave
Definition
a period of time with higher than average temps
Term
What is the difference between a weather watch and a weather warning?
Definition
A watch means that conditions are right for sever weather but is not currently happening

A warning means that the storm has begun
Term
Meteorologist
Definition
Scientist who studies atmosphere and weather
Term
What is the symbol for a cold front?
Definition
a line with triangles under it
Term
What is the symbol for a warm front?
Definition
a line with 1/2 circles above it
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