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Weir Science Weather and Climate SCS
Weather and Climate Unit Test Ms. Weir
38
Science
5th Grade
09/21/2012

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Cards

Term
Insolation
Definition
The amount of the sun's energy that reaches the Earth.
Term
Troposphere
Definition

The atmospheric layer of gases that is closest to the Earth's surface.

 

Weather is the condition of the troposphere.

Term
Weather
Definition

The condition of the troposphere is like at any given place and time.

 

Weather can be hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, and sunny or cloudy.

Term
Air Pressure
Definition

The force put on a given area by the weight of air above it.

 

You can think of this as the weight of a column of air pressing on a patch of the Earth's surface.

Term
Humidity
Definition

The amount of water vapor in the air.

 

Air is a mixture of gases. Water vapor weighs less than most other gases in the air.

Term
Global Winds
Definition

A wind that blows steadily in a predictable direction over long distances.

 

Global winds blow because sunlight heats areas near Earth's equator more than it heats areas near the Earth's poles.

Term
Barometer
Definition
A device for measuring air pressure.
Term
Air Mass
Definition
A large region of the atmosphere in which air has similar properties
Term
Front
Definition
The boundary between two air masses.
Term
Weather Map
Definition
A map that shows the weather in a specific point in time.
Term
Thunderstorm
Definition
A rainstorm with both lightning and thunder.
Term
Blizzard
Definition
A snowstorm with 35 mph winds and enough snowfall that you can only see up to a quarter of a mile.
Term
Tornado
Definition
A rotating funnel shaped cloud with wind speeds up to 300 mph.
Term
Hurricane
Definition
A very large swirling storm with very low pressure at the center and speeds greater than 75 mph.
Term
Storm Surge
Definition
A bulge of water in the ocean caused by hurricane waves and winds.  As a storm moves over a coast, the storm surge can cause water levels to suddenly rise, or surge, several meters.
Term
Cyclone
Definition
Any storm with low pressure center that causes a circular pattern of winds to form. Tropical storms,hurricanes, and tornadoes have low-pressure centers and spinning winds. They are all cyclones.
Term
Climate
Definition

The average weather pattern of a region.

 

Climate can be determined for different areas, different periods of time, and different locations.

 

Because of insolation's effect on temperature, latitude has the strongest effect on climate.

 

Another way to categorize an area's climate is to describe the plants that grow there.

Term
Current
Definition

An ocean movement; a large stream of water that flows in the ocean.

 

There are many different currents in the ocean that are constantly moving.

Term
Rain shadow
Definition

The dry area on the leeward side of a mountain.

 

Mountain ranges affect precipitation patterns. As warm, moist air moves up a mountain, it gets colder.

Term
El Nino
Definition
A change in weather conditions caused by the sinking of the cold current in the Pacific Ocean; characterized by higher tides, heavy rains, and storms along the coast of North and South America.
Term
When different kinds of air move and mix with each other, what can occur?
Definition
clouds, wind, storms
Term
What causes wind?
Definition
warm air rising and cold air sinking
Term
How do clouds form?
Definition
water evaporates from the Earth into the air, then condenses into water droplets
Term
In which situation would a storm be most likely to happen?
Definition
when very cold air moves into an area with warm air
Term
What are clouds made of?
Definition
liquid water and ice
Term
What is the main reason that scientists have so many tools to measure and predict weather?
Definition
Good predictions give people time to make plans and protect themselves from bad weather.
Term
Cirrus Clouds
Definition

Thin, wispy; made of ice crystals

 

usually mean fair weather; usually indicate that the weather will change within 24 hours

Term
Stratus Clouds
Definition

solid gray; usually cover whole sky

 

often create light mist or drizzle

Term
Cumulus Clouds
Definition

white, puffy; look like cotton

 

indicate fair weather but can grow upward like towers and change into storm clouds

Term
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Definition

top of towering cumulus cloud that get flattened by high wind

 

 

thunderstorm clouds; that can produce heavy rain, hail, snow, lightning, and sometimes tornadoes

Term
Anemometer
Definition
a device with rotating cups that measures wind speed
Term
Exosphere
Definition
The layer of the atmosphere that is farthest away from Earth's surface
Term
The noise of thunder
Definition
is caused by a rapid expansion of air
Term
Fog
Definition
A cloud close to the ground
Term
Troposphere
Definition
The layer of gases closest to Earth, where all weather takes place
Term
Coriolis Effect
Definition
describes the change in direction of something on or above Earth's surface because of Earth's because of Earth's rotation. This effect causes the winds to curve.
Term
Cyclone
Definition
any storm with a low pressure center that causes a circular wind pattern
Term
Lightning
Definition

Lightning is the spark from the discharge of electricity that has built up in a thunderhead (which is a tall cloud)

Static electricity builds up as gravity pulls water particles down, and wind pushes water particles up, then static electricity is released as lightning.

Lightning raises the temperature of the air around it to more than five times the temperature of the sun, this burst of heat makes the air expand violently. Thunder is the sound of the rapidly expanding air.

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