16-1 What is Weather?
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21 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Weather | the description of the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place. This is the result of heat and Earth's air and water. |
| Temperature | how fast the molecules move. High = fast movement, low= slow movement high temps=low pressure |
| wind | air moving in a specific direction |
| humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air * warm air can hold more moisture* |
| relative humidity | the measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount needed for saturation at a specific temperature. When relative humidity is 100 then the air is saturated. |
| dew point | the temperature at which air is saturated and condensation forms. This changes with the amount of water vapor in the air. Measured with a psychrometer (dry bulb and wet bulb) |
| clouds | objects that form as warm air rises, expands, and then cools. classified by shape and height |
| precipitation | water falling from clouds |
| types of precipitation | rain, snow, sleet, hail |
| sleet | rain drops that pass through a layer of frozen air near Earth's surface forming pellets. (first rain then ice) |
| hail | precipitation in the form of lumps of ice. They form in cumulonimbus clouds and they can be very dangerous. |
| fog | a stratus cloud that forms near the ground when air is cooled to its dew point. |
| stratus | height - low shape- layered weather- fair weather or light rain/snow |
| cumulus | height- middle or high shape- puffy, cotton balls weather- fair or thunderstorms |
| cirrus | height- high shape- feathery, wispy weather- fair or storms may be coming |
| nimbus | means "dark rain cloud" |
| cumulonimbus | when a cumulus clouds grows into a thunderstorm. Cloud is very dark on the bottom. Sometimes called a thunder cloud. Can produce thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes. |
| nimbostratus | very high clouds that can bring long, steady rain or snow |
| cirro | high |
| alto | middle |
| strato | low |
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