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Weather and Climate
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| accumulation | The process where water collects in large bodies like oceans, lakes, and rivers after precipitation. It’s the final step in the water cycle before evaporation starts again. |
| precipitation | Any form of water that falls from clouds to Earth’s surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on temperature conditions. |
| water vapor | The gaseous, invisible form of water found in the air. It increases when evaporation happens and decreases when condensation occurs. |
| Celsius | A temperature scale used by most of the world, where water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. |
| Fahrenheit | A temperature scale mostly used in the United States, where water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. |
| weather | The current conditions of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including temperature, wind, humidity, and precipitation. |
| wind direction | The direction from which the wind is blowing. For example, a “north wind” blows from the north toward the south. |
| evaporation | When the sun’s heat changes liquid water from oceans, lakes, or puddles into invisible water vapor that rises into the atmosphere. |
| condensation | The process where water vapor cools and changes back into tiny liquid droplets, forming clouds in the sky. |
| elevation | The height of land above sea level. Higher elevations are usually cooler because the air is thinner. |
| latitude | Imaginary lines that run east-west around Earth and measure how far north or south a place is from the Equator. Latitude affects a region’s climate. |
| thermometer | A tool used to measure temperature. It can show readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. |
| anemometer | A weather instrument that measures wind speed. The faster the cups or propellers spin, the stronger the wind. |
| barometer | A tool that measures air pressure, helping meteorologists predict changes in the weather. |
| hygrometer | A weather instrument used to measure humidity, or how much moisture is in the air. |
| humidity | The amount of water vapor or moisture in the air. High humidity makes the air feel sticky, while low humidity feels dry. |
| climate zone | A region on Earth that has similar weather patterns and temperatures throughout the year. |
| Polar | Cold climate zones near the North and South Poles, with long winters, freezing temperatures, and ice or snow year-round. |
| Temperate | Climate zones with moderate temperatures and four seasons — winter, spring, summer, and fall. |
| Tropical | Climate zones near the Equator that are hot and humid year-round with frequent rain. |
| Subtropical | Warm climate zones just outside the tropics, with hot summers, mild winters, and higher humidity. |
| atmosphere | The layer of gases surrounding Earth that provides air to breathe, protects us from the sun’s harmful rays, and keeps Earth warm enough for life. |
| hydrosphere | All the water found on, under, and above Earth’s surface, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and clouds. |
| glaciers | Huge, slow-moving rivers of ice formed from compacted snow over many years. They store most of Earth’s freshwater. |
| ocean | The largest body of saltwater covering most of Earth’s surface. Oceans store and move heat around the planet. |
| lake | A large body of still (not flowing) freshwater surrounded by land. |
| river | A natural flow of freshwater that moves toward oceans, lakes, or other rivers. |
| runoff | Water from rain or melting snow that flows over the ground and eventually collects in rivers, lakes, or oceans. |
| freshwater | Water that has little or no salt. Found in lakes, rivers, glaciers, and underground. |
| saltwater | Water that contains salt, found mostly in the oceans and some seas. |
| groundwater | Water stored beneath Earth’s surface in soil and rock layers. It can feed wells, springs, and plants. |
| swamp | A type of wetland with standing water and many trees or plants growing in it. |
| stream | A smaller, narrow body of moving freshwater that often connects to rivers. |
| rain | Liquid water droplets that fall when clouds become heavy. |
| snow | Ice crystals that form in very cold air and fall gently to the ground as flakes. |
| sleet | Tiny pellets of ice that form when raindrops freeze before reaching the ground. Like a slushy. |
| hail | Balls of ice that form in tall storm clouds when raindrops are pushed up and down by strong winds until they grow heavy and fall. |
| cirrus | Thin, wispy clouds high in the sky made mostly of ice crystals. They usually signal fair weather but can mean a change is coming. |
| cumulus | Fluffy, white clouds that look like cotton balls. They often appear on sunny days. |
| stratus | Flat, gray clouds that cover the sky like a blanket, often bringing light rain or drizzle. |
| cumulonimbus | Tall, towering storm clouds that can produce thunder, lightning, heavy rain, and hail. |
| air pressure | The force of air pressing down on Earth’s surface. High pressure usually brings clear skies; low pressure often means storms or rain. |
| coastal | Areas near the ocean or sea that tend to have milder temperatures and more moisture compared to inland areas. |
| climate | The average weather conditions in a certain area over a long period of time. It describes patterns, not daily changes. |
Created by:
msleiva5thgradescience
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