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Weather Patterns
Weather and Climate: Chapter Three
Term | Definition |
---|---|
air mass | a huge body of air that has similar temperature, pressure, and humidity throughout. |
tropical | a warm air mass that forms in the tropics and has low air pressure. (Think: warm) |
polar | a cold air mass that forms north of 50 degrees north latitude or below 50 degrees south latitude and has high air pressure. (Think: cold) |
continental | a dry air mass that forms over land. |
maritime | a humid air mass that forms over oceans. |
front | the area where air masses meet and do not mix. |
storm | a violent disturbance in the atmosphere. |
tornado | a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to touch Earth's surface. |
hurricane | a tropical storm that has winds of 119 miles per hour or greater. |
meteorologist | a scientist who studies the causes of weather and tries to predict it. |
weather balloon | a device that is sent into the atmosphere to take measurements. |
satellites | devices that orbit Earth and transmit information; used to help forecast weather |
isobar | a line on a weather map that join areas of the same air pressure. |
isotherm | a line on a weather map that join areas of the same air temperature. |