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Meteorology

Terms in this set (34)

Atmosphere
An envelope of gaseous mass surrounding a celestial body
Air density
The amount of air molecules per volume. How tightly packed the air is.
Air pressure
Force applied by the air density in a given area
Altitude
Height above sea level
Troposphere
Lowest layer of the atmosphere. Highest air density/pressure. Gets cooler as altitude increases
Stratosphere
Second lowest layer, contains the ozone, which causes temperature to rise as altitude increases
Mesosphere
Third lowest layer. Atmospheric layer where meteors begin to burn up
Thermosphere
Second highest layer. Extremely hot layer of the atmosphere
Concentration
air density in a given area
diffusion
the process of air molecules moving from areas of high concentration to low concentration
Sea Breeze
Wind that happens during the day from the ocean
Land breeze
wind that happens at night from the land
Evaporation
First stage of the water cycle when liquid water gains heat energy and turns into gaseous water vapor
Condensation
Second stage in the water cycle when gaseous water vapor loses heat energy and turns back into liquid water in the form of a cloud
Precipitation
third stage of the water cycle where gravity pulls down water from clouds (rain, snow, sleet, hail)
Run-off
When water runs downhill
Infiltration
When water is absorbed by the ground
Transpiration
When water is trapped on the top of plants and leaves and is evaporated straight from there
Climate
How the atmosphere usually feels in a region (temperature and humidity)
Weather
How the atmosphere feels in a region at a specific time
Longitude
Distance from the prime meridian moving west and east around the globe
Latitude
Distance from the equator moving north and sound around the globe
Coastal region
Regions close to water that receive more precipitation, are more humid, and have more consistent temperatures from day to night and season to season
Inland region
Regions far from water that receive less precipitation, are more dry, and have more variable temperatures from day to night and from season to season.
Air mass
A body of air that shares the same temperature and humidity characteristics
Cold air mass
A cold and dry body of air
Warm air mass
A warm and humid body of air
Jet stream
Fast flowing narrow air currents found in the troposphere
Cold front
When a cold air mass quickly pushes up a warm air mass. This leads to thunderstorms followed by cold and clear weather.
Warm front
When a warm air mass slowly rises above a cold air mass. This front leads to light rain and is followed by warm and clear weather
Stationary front
When a warm air mass and cold air mass meet and neither one immediately wins out. This results in light, steady rain and an undetermined outcome
High pressure zone
when the majority of air molecules and water vapor are close to the surface of the Earth resulting in clear and sunny skies.
Low pressure zone
When a majority of air molecules and water vapor are high in the sky resulting in cloudy, rainy weather.
Hurricane
Rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain.
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