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Weather
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Weather | The state of the atmosphere at a certain place and time |
Dew Point | The temperature that condensation begins; point that air is cool enough to create a cloud (or water we can see). |
Condensation nuclei | Small particles in the air that attract water and help produce condensation in clouds. |
Saturation | Point at which air is holding the maximum amount of water vapor |
Stratus | Low lying cloud in flat sheets or layers. Means “spread out” |
Cumulus | Puffy clouds that look like cotton balls which can be very tall. Means “heap” or “pile” |
Cirrus | High, thin, wispy clouds made of ice crystals. Means “curl of hair” |
Nimbus | Clouds that produce precipitation |
Alto | Prefix for medium level clouds |
Fog | Low lying cloud that is very close to the ground or a body of water where the surface is colder than air above it. |
Relative Humidity | Measure of the amount of water (moisture) in the air as compared to the maximum amount of water the air can hold (%). |
Psychrometer | Instrument used to measure relative humidity. |
Local Winds | Unequal heating of the earth within a small area. |
Global Winds | Winds that blow steadily from specific directions over long. |
Pressure Systems | Region of the earth’s atmosphere where pressure is either high or low. |
Air mass | Large volume of air with similar temperature and humidity throughout. |
Fronts | Boundary separating two air masses |
Isobars | Lines connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure |
Isotherms | Lines connecting points of equal temperature |