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Science 3
Weather and Climate
Term | Definition |
---|---|
troposphere | the lowest layer of the atmosphere where most water is found and most clouds form. |
thermometer | a tool used to measure temperature |
barometer | an instrument that is used to measure air pressure and predict changes in the weather. |
rain gauge | an instrument for measuring rainfall. |
hygrometer | an instrument for measuring the amount of moisture in the air. |
wind vane | a weather instrument used to determine the direction the wind is blowing |
anemometer | an instrument for measuring the force or speed of the wind. |
high-pressure area | a mass of cold air |
low-pressure area | a mass of warm air |
water vapor | gas or moisture floating in the air; steam |
fog | fine particles of water floating in the atmosphere near the ground |
meterologist | a person who studies, reports and forecasts weather conditions |
updrafts | an upward current of warm, moist air |
wind | the horizontal movement of air |
atmosphere | the layer of air that surrounds earth. |
air pressure | the weight of air |
humidity | a measure of the amount of water in the air |
precipitation | any form of water that falls from clouds, such as rain or snow. |
evaporation | the process by which a liquid changes into a gas |
condensation | the process by which a gas changes back into a liquid |
local winds | the winds dependent upon local changes in temperature |
prevailing winds | the global winds that blow constantly from the same direction |
airmass | a large body of air that has nearly the same temperature and humidity through out |
front | the boundary between air masses |
climate | the average of all weather conditions through all season over a period of time. |
microclimate | the climate of a very small area |
El Nino | a short term climate change that occurs every two to ten years |
greenhouse effect | process by which the earths atmosphere absorbs heat |
global warming | the hypothesized rise in earths average temperature from excess carbon dioxide |