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Weather and Climate
Nature of Science
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| water cycle | The water cycle, also called the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. |
| sublimation | Sublimation is the process where a substance changes directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid phase. |
| transpiration | Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water vapor through small pores (stomata) in their leaves, stems, and flowers. |
| evaporation | Evaporation is the process by which a liquid changes into a gas at temperatures below its boiling point. |
| condensation | Condensation is the process by which a gas (most commonly water vapor) changes into a liquid when cooled or saturated. |
| precipitation | Precipitation is any form of water—liquid or solid—that condenses in the atmosphere and falls to Earth, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. |
| weather | Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, described by conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and cloudiness. |
| humidity | Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air. |
| relative humidity | Relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor currently in the air to the maximum amount the air could hold at the same temperature, expressed as a percentage. |
| dew point | The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated with water vapor, causing condensation (dew, fog, or frost) to form. |
| air pressure | Air pressure is the force exerted by air molecules on a surface due to their weight and motion. |
| wind | Wind is the natural movement of air across the Earth’s surface, usually in a horizontal direction. |
| visibility | Visibility means the state of being able to be seen or the degree to which something can be clearly observed. |
| air mass | An air mass is a large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity that can extend for hundreds or thousands of miles. |
| jet stream | A jet stream is a fast, narrow band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere, typically blowing from west to east around the globe. |
| thunderstorm | A thunderstorm is a storm characterized by lightning and thunder, usually accompanied by rain, strong winds, and sometimes hail or snow. |
| lightning | Lightning is a sudden, visible electrical discharge in the atmosphere, usually between clouds or from a cloud to the ground. |
| thunder | Thunder is the sound produced by lightning, caused by the rapid expansion of air along the lightning’s path. |
| hurricane | A hurricane is a powerful tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 km/h), usually accompanied by heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. |
| storm surge | A storm surge is a rapid rise in sea level caused by strong winds and low-pressure during storms, especially hurricanes and cyclones, leading to dangerous coastal flooding. |
| tornado | A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. |
| sinkhole | A sinkhole is a natural depression or hole in the ground caused by the collapse of the surface layer, often due to the dissolution of underlying rock such as limestone, gypsum, or salt by water. |
| wildfire | A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that spreads through vegetation such as forests, grasslands, brushlands, or croplands. |
| muck fire | A muck fire is an underground fire that burns in soil rich with organic matter (like peat or decomposed vegetation), often smoldering for weeks and proving very difficult to extinguish. |
| weather | Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, described by conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind, cloudiness, and precipitation. |
| climate | Climate is the long-term average pattern of weather conditions in a region, typically measured over decades. |
| latitude | Latitude is the measurement of distance north or south of the Earth’s equator, expressed in degrees. |
| topography | Topography is the study and description of the physical features of a land surface, including its shape, relief, and both natural and human-made elements. |
| elevation | Elevation means the height of something above a reference point, most commonly sea level. |
| surface currents | Surface currents are the horizontal movement of ocean water near the surface, primarily driven by global wind patterns, Earth’s rotation (Coriolis effect), and the shape of ocean basins. |
Created by:
jorge kahwati