| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Air pressure | measure of the force of air molecules pushing down |
| Millibars | units used to measure barometric pressure |
| Chlorofluorocarbons | pollutants that break down the ozone layer |
| Conduction | movement of heat through solids; by contact |
| Convection | movement of heat by the flow of a heated material |
| Coriolis effect | rotation of the Earth causes objects to move in a curved path |
| Doldrums | absence of winds at the equator caused by warm air moving up |
| Exosphere | outer layer of the atmosphere with the fewest molecules |
| Ionosphere | layer of charged particles located in the thermosphere |
| Jet stream | high altitude winds |
| Ozone layer | located in the stratosphere; blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation |
| Polar easterlies | surface winds that blow from the northeast; located at the poles |
| Prevailing westerlies | surface winds that blow from the southwest; located between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator; responsible for much of the movement of weather across the US |
| Radiation | movement of heat through empty space in the form of electromagnetic waves |
| Thermosphere | layer of the atmosphere where temperatures increase to over 1,700 degrees Celsius |
| Trade winds | surface winds that blow from the northeast; located from the equator to 30 degrees north or south |
| Troposphere | location of weather and clouds |
| Air mass | large body of air that takes on the properties of the area over which it forms |
| Anemometer | instrument used to measure air speed |
| Barometer | instrument used to measure air pressure |
| Barometric pressure | air pressure |
| Cirrus cloud | high level clouds that are thin and wispy |
| Cold front | air mass that has cold, dry air |
| Dew point | temperature at which water condenses |
| Front | boundary separating air masses |
| Humidity | amount of moisture in the air |
| Isobars | lines on a weather map that connect areas of the same air pressure |
| Isotherms | lines on a weather map that connect areas of the same temperature |
| Occluded front | when a warm front catches up to a cold front |
| Precipitation | rain, snow, sleet, hail |
| Rain gauge | instrument used to measure precipitation |
| Relative humidity | ratio of the amount of water vapor present to the amount that can be held |
| Sling psychrometer | instrument used to measure humidity |
| Station model | diagram that shows the current weather conditions for a location |
| Stationary front | air mass that is not moving |
| Stratus cloud | layered clouds |
| Temperature | average kinetic energy |
| Warm front | air mass that consists of warm moist air |
| Weather | current atmospheric conditions |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace
