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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 |