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Weather and Water
6th grade science
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| absorb | to soak up |
| air | the mixture of gases surrounding earth |
| air pressure | the force exerted on a surface by the mass of the air above it; also called atmospheric pressure |
| atmosphere | the layer of gases surrounding Earth. Its layers include the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere |
| atmospheric pressure | the force exerted on a surface by the mass of the air above it; also called air pressure |
| axis | an imaginary axle that a planet spins on |
| bar | the unit of measurement for air pressure. A bar is equal to the pressure exerted by the air in the atmosphere at sea level. |
| barometer | a weather tool that measures air pressure |
| bimetallic strip | a narrow band made of two metals stuck together |
| blizzard | a severe storm with low temperatures, strong winds, and extreme snow |
| boundary current | a large-scale ocean current along the coastline |
| carbon dioxide (CO2) | a greenhouse gas found in Earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is created by natural and human-made processes |
| carbon sequestration | the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, typically by storing it underground |
| air mass | one huge body of air that has relatively uniform temperature and humidity |
| climate change | the change in our climate due to increased greenhouse gases and energy usage |
| climatologist | a scientist who studies climate |
| climatology | the study of a region’s climate over 30 or more years |
| cold front | a zone where a faster-moving cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, resulting in brief, intense precipitation |
| compress | to push particles closer together |
| condensation | the process by which water vapor changes into liquid water, usually on a surface |
| condensation | nuclei tiny surfaces on which water may condense |
| conduction | energy transfer by contact between particles |
| constraint | a restriction or limitation |
| convection | energy transfer during which hot fluid rises and cold fluid sinks, creating a cycle |
| convection cell | a mass of fluid flowing in a cycle in one place |
| Coriolis effect | the cause of winds near the equator in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to curve west |
| criterion | requirement |
| cumulonimbus | clouds that are piled up from low to high levels and bring rain |
| density | the amount of mass in a sample of matter compared to the volume of that sample |
| dew point | the temperature at which air is saturated with water vapor and vapor condenses into liquid |
| differential heating | the concept that different materials heat up at different rates |
| doldrums | the calm area around the equator |
| drought | a less-than-normal amount of rain or snow over a long period of time |
| dust devil | a small rotating wind that becomes visible when it collects dust and debris |
| dust storm | a severe weather in which strong winds carry large quantities of dust over an area |
| El Niño | a flow of unusually warm water in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It causes many changes in weather in other places |
| emission | a substance being let out into the atmosphere |
| energy transfer | the movement of energy from one place or form to another; the process that drives the cycle of convection |
| engineering problem | a challenge that needs to be solved by an engineer by identifying the design requirements and limitations |
| equilibrium | when air moves from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure, making the air density equal |
| equinox | a day of the year when the Sun’s rays shine straight down on the equator |
| evaporation | the process by which liquid water changes into water vapor |
| evidence | data used to support claims. Evidence is based on observation and scientific data |
| exosphere | the layer of the atmosphere above the thermosphere. The exosphere marks the transition from the atmosphere to space |
| expand | to get bigger; to take up more space |
| flash flood | a short, rapid, unexpected flow of water and debris |
| flood | a large amount of water flowing over land that is usually dry |
| fluid | substance that can flow, such as a gas or liquid |
| forecast | to predict future events or conditions, such as weather |
| global warming | a worldwide warming trend on Earth that affects global weather |
| greenhouse effect | the process in which greenhouse gases “trap” heat by absorbing and radiating heat energy so it doesn’t pass through the atmosphere and exit to space |
| greenhouse gas | a gas that absorbs and radiates energy in the atmosphere, trapping thermal energy |
| groundwater | water stored below Earth’s surface |
| Gulf Stream | a warm boundary current in the North Atlantic Ocean |
| gyre | a large system of rotating ocean currents |
| Hadley cell | a huge convection cell that covers much of Earth at the equator |
| hail | precipitation in the form of small balls of ice |
| heat | observable evidence of energy |
| horse latitudes | the windless areas around 30 degrees north and south of the equator |
| humidity | water vapor in the air |
| hurricane | a cyclone or severe rotating tropical storm that produces high winds in the Northern Hemisphere east of the International Date Line |
| hygrometer | a weather tool that measures humidity |
| ice core | a sample from deep, ancient ice near Earth’s poles that provides information about the gas content of the atmosphere in the past |
| infrared | radiant energy that is beyond the red end of the visible spectrum |
| insulation | material that can reduce energy transfers |
| isobar | smooth, non-intersecting lines on a map that represent air pressure over a large region |
| jet stream | a narrow band of fast-moving high-altitude wind flowing west to east that affects weather conditions on Earth |
| kinetic energy | energy of motion |
| land breeze | a wind that blows from land to sea |
| latitude | the distance north or south from the equator measured in degrees; a factor that affects local weather and climate |
| lightning | a bright flash of light caused by an electric discharge between two clouds or from a cloud to Earth |
| mass | the amount of matter in an object or sample |
| matter | anything that has mass and takes up space |
| mesosphere | the layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere |
| meteorologist | a scientist who studies the weather |
| meteorology | the scientific study of weather |
| methane (CH4) | a variable gas in the atmosphere; a greenhouse gas |
| microburst | a short, very intense downdraft or air |
| millibar (mb) | the unit that meteorologists use when reporting air pressures on a weather map; equal to 1/1000 of a bar |
| model | an explanation or representation of an object, system, or process that cannot be easily studied |
| nitrogen (N2) | a colorless, odorless gas that makes up about 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere |
| nonrenewable | a material that cannot be replaced once used up |
| North Star | the reference star pointed to by the North Pole |
| ocean current | a global water pattern affected by winds, differences in water density, tides, and landmasses |
| orbit | the path and length of time one object takes to travel around another object |
| oxygen (O2) | a gas that makes up about 21 percent of Earth’s atmosphere |
| ozone (O3) | a form of oxygen that forms a thin layer in the stratosphere |
| paleoclimatology | the study of long-term climate trends extending to ancient times |
| particle | an atom or a molecule; what everything is made of |
| permanent gas | a gas in the atmosphere for which the amount stays constant. Oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) are permanent gases |
| photosynthes | is a process used by plants and algae to make sugar (food) out of light, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O) |
| planet | an object that orbits a star and is massive enough for its own gravity to force it into a spherical shape |
| pollutant | harmful waste |
| precipitation | rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground |
| prediction | an estimation about a future event based on data or experience |
| pressure | a continuous force applied to the surface of an object, measured in units per square area |
| prevailing wind | a predictable wind produced by the combination of high and low pressure areas and the Coriolis effect |
| radiant energy | energy that travels through air and space |
| radiation | energy that is radiated or transmitted through space in the form of rays, waves, or particles |
| radiosonde | an instrument sent into Earth’s atmosphere to measure temperature, air pressure, humidity, and wind |
| ray | a thin beam or line of radiant energy, such as light |
| renewable | able to be replaced or restored by nature |
| revolution | one complete orbit around something |
| rip current | a strong local ocean current that moves directly away from shore |
| rotation | spinning on an axis |
| salinity | the amount of dissolved salt in water |
| saturated | when air contains as much water vapor as it can at a certain temperature |
| sea breeze | a wind that blows from sea onto land |
| season | a period of the year identified by changes in hours of daylight and weather |
| severe weather | out-of-the-ordinary and extreme weather conditions |
| solar angle | the angle at which light from the sun strikes the surface of earth |
| solar energy | radiant energy from the sun |
| solstice | a day of the year when the North Pole is angled farthest toward or away from the Sun |
| star | a large, hot ball of gas radiating huge amounts of energy |
| state | a kind or form of matter. The three common states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas |
| step leader | a downward path of electric charge from a cloud to earth, producing lightning |
| straight-line wind | a strong wind that has no rotation |
| stratosphere | the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere. The ozone layer is in the stratosphere |
| temperature | a measure of how hot or cold the air is |
| thermal energy | radiant energy that heats |
| thermometer | an instrument that measures thermal energy as temperature |
| thermosphere | the layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere |
| thunder | a loud, explosive sound created by lightning |
| thunderstorm | severe weather that results from cold air flowing under a warm, humid air mass over the land, resulting in lightning, thunder, heavy precipitation, and possible tornadoes |
| tornado | a rapidly rotating destructive column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Wind speeds can exceed 400 kilometers (km) per hour |
| trade wind | the predictable moderate wind from between 5° and 25° north or south latitude |
| transpiration | the continuous process by which water travels through plants and releases as water vapor |
| troposphere | the layer of the atmosphere that begins at earth’s surface and extends upward for an average of 15 kilometers. Weather happens in the troposphere |
| typhoon | a cyclone or severe tropical storm that produces high winds in the Pacific north of the equator and west of the International Date Line |
| updraft | a forceful vertical air current |
| vacuum | space containing no particles of air or anything else |
| variable gas | an atmospheric gas whose amount changes based on the environment. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and ozone (O3) are variable gases |
| vortex | a tornado-like swirling column of wind or water |
| warm front | a zone where a faster-moving warm air mass collides with a cold air mass, resulting in prolonged, light precipitation |
| water cycle | the repeating sequence of condensation and evaporation of water on earth, causing clouds and rain and other forms of precipitation |
| water vapor (H2O) | the gaseous state of water; a variable gas that is found in earth’s atmosphere |
| weather | the condition of the air around us |
| weather factor | a variable property of weather, such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, or wind |
| weight | the measurable pull or force between earth and the matter in an object or substance |
| wildfire | a fire occurring in nature that can be driven by winds |
| wind | air in motion |
Created by:
takai2
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