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Chapter 16 Vocab

Terms in this set (31)

Cloud
A visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground
Dew Point
The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water
Relative Humidity
The percentage of water vapor a certain volume of air is holding relative to the maximum amount it can contain
Air Mass
A batch of air that has nearly the same temperature and humidity
Cold Front
When a cold air mass takes the place of a warm air mass
Front
The two air masses have different densities and do not easily mix
Occluded Front
Starts when a cold front catches up to a warm front
Squall Lines
A line of severe thunderstorms that form along a cold front
Stationary Front
Air masses do not move
Warm Front
A warm air mass slides over a cold air mass
Thunderstorms
Storm with thunder and lighting and typically also heavy rain or hail
Lightning
Energy collects in cumulonimbus clouds that a huge release of electricity
Thunder
A loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash
Tornadoes
Also called twisters, are fierce products of severe thunderstorms
Cyclone
A system of winds rotating counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere around a low pressure center
Anticyclone
The opposite of a cyclone
Mid-Latitude Cyclones
Form at the polar front when the temperature difference between two air masses is large
Nor' easters
Mid-latitude syclones are especially fierce in the mid- Atlantic and New England states
Hurricanes
Store with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean
Tropical Depression
Warm air rises and forms a low pressure cell
Blizzard
Distinguished by certain conditions
Lake-effect snow
Snow falling on the lee side of a lake, generated by cold dry air passing over warm water
Heat Wave
A prolonged period of abnormal hot weather
Thermometers
Measures temperature
Barometers
To measure atmospheric air pressure
Radiosondes
Measure atmospheric characteristics, such as temperature, pressure, and humidity
Radar
A transmitter sends out a radio waves that bounce off the nearest object and then return to a receiver
Weather Maps
Simply and Graphically depict meteorological conditions in the atmosphere
Isotherms
Lines of equal temperature
Isobars
Lines of equal average air pressure at sea level
Isotachs
Lines of constant wind speed
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