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Unit 5 Chap. 2
Chapter 2 Weather
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| weather | The atmospheric conditions, along with short term changes, of a certain place at a certain time. |
| air pressure | The pressure that a column of air exerts on the air or a surface below it. |
| humidity | The amount of water vapor in the air. |
| relative humidity | The amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air could contain at that temperature. |
| dew point | Temperature at which air is saturated and condensation can occur. |
| precipitation | Water, in liquid or solid form, that falls from the atmosphere. |
| water cycle | The series of natural processes by which water continually moves through the hydrosphere. |
| high-pressure system | A large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside the system |
| low-pressure system | A large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and higher pressure outside of the system. |
| air mass | A large area of air that has uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure. |
| front | A boundary between two air masses. |
| tornado | A violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground. |
| hurricane | An intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 74 mph (119 km/h) |
| blizzard | A violent winter storm characterized by freezing temperatures, strong winds, and blowing snow. |
| surface report | A description of a set of weather measurements made on Earth’s surface. |
| upper-air report | A description of wind, temperature, and humidity conditions above Earth’s surface. |
| Doppler radar | A specialized type of radar that can detect precipitation as well as the movement of small particles, which can be used to approximate wind speed. |
| isobar | Lines that connect all places on a map where pressure has the same value. |
| isotherm | Lines that connect places on a map with the same temperature. |
| computer model | Detailed computer programs that solve a set of complex mathematical formulas. |
| density | mass divided by volume |
| cloud | liquid water droplets suspended in the air |