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Sekas Chapters 7 & 8
Chapters 7 & 8 Vocabulary Words
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| radiation | the transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves |
| greenhouse effect | the process by which gases in the atmosphere, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide, absorb and give off infrared radiation |
| conduction | the transfer of thermal energy by collisions between particles of matter |
| convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of particles within matter |
| heat | the transfer of thermal energy from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature |
| ocean current | a large volume of water flowing in a certain direction |
| surface current | a wind-driven current that carries ocean water horizontally across the ocean's surface |
| gyre | a large circular system of ocean currents |
| Coriolis Effect | the movement of wind and water to the right or left that is caused by Earth's rotation |
| weather | the atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes, of a certain place at a certain time |
| air temperature | the measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the air |
| air pressure | the force that a column of air applies on the air or a surface below it |
| humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air |
| wind | created by the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure |
| 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 | the temperature at which air is saturated and condensation can occur |
| clouds | water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere |
| fog | a cloud that forms near Earth's surface |
| precipitation | occurs when cloud droplets combine and become large enough to fall back to Earth's surface |
| water cycle | the series of natural processes by which water continually moves among oceans, land, and the atmosphere |
| high-pressure system | a large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system |
| low-pressure system | a large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system |
| air mass | a large body of air that has uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure |
| jet stream | a narrow band of high winds in the troposphere |
| front | a boundary between two air masses |
| lightning | electricity discharged within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground |
| tornado | a violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground |
| hurricane | an intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km/h |
| drought | a period of below average precipitation in an area that can last for several months or years |
| climate | the long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region |