Details Title: Station 5 Weathering Erosion Description: atmosphere Total Flash Cards: 60 Created: 11/18/2004 11:10:20		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Meteorology Flashcards
Cards in this set: 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