Weather Flash Cards 5th Grade

Water Cycle and Precipitation

• Precipitation: Water that falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

• Evaporation: The process of liquid water turning into water vapor (gas).

• Condensation: The process of water vapor cooling and turning back into liquid water drops.

• Transpiration: Water movement and release as vapor from plant leaves into the air.

Wind and Air Movement

• Wind: Moving air caused by differences in air pressure.

• Wind speed: How fast the wind is moving.

• Wind direction: The compass direction from which the wind is blowing.

• Sea breeze: Cool air blowing from the sea toward the land during the day.

• Land breeze: Cool air blowing from the land toward the sea at night.

• Gulf Stream: A warm, fast ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean moving up from the Gulf of Mexico.

• Current: A continuous, directed movement of ocean water.

Temperature and Pressure

• Temperature: A measure of how hot or cold the air is.

• Air pressure: The weight of the atmosphere pressing down on Earth’s surface.

• Atmospheric conditions: The current state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.

Location and Earth Geography

• Location: A specific place on Earth.

• Latitude: Distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

• Hemisphere: Half of the Earth (divided into northern, southern, eastern, or western halves).

• Equator: An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, dividing the northern and southern hemispheres.

• Coastal: Land near or right next to the sea or ocean.

• Ocean: A very large body of salt water covering most of Earth.

Weather vs. Climate

• Weather conditions: Short

term state of the atmosphere (e.g., rainy today).

• Weather: The day

to

• Climate: Average weather patterns in a place over a long time, usually 30 years.

• Seasons: Divisions of the year marked by specific weather patterns and daylight changes (spring, summer, autumn, winter).

• Sun’s energy: Heat and light from the sun that drives Earth's weather and water cycle.

Atmospheric Tools and Data

• Analyze: To study data carefully to find meaning or patterns.

• Interpret: To explain the meaning of data, maps, or symbols.

• Weather patterns: Similar weather events that happen over and over.

• Forecast: A prediction of future weather conditions.

• Cloud cover: The fraction of the sky blocked by clouds.

• Air mass: A huge body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout.

• Clouds: Visible masses of tiny water drops or ice crystals floating in the air.

• Fronts (warm, cold): The boundary where two different air masses meet. A warm front brings warm air replacing cold air; a cold front brings cold air replacing warm air.

• Symbols: Small pictures or signs used on weather maps to show data (like a cold front line with blue triangles).

• Satellite maps: Pictures taken from space showing cloud movement and weather systems.

• Radar: A tool that uses radio waves to track rain, snow, and storms.

• Weather balloons: Balloons sent high into the air to measure upper atmospheric conditions.

Severe Weather

• Severe weather: Dangerous, destructive weather events like thunderstorms or blizzards.

• Tornadoes: Violently rotating columns of air touching the ground from a thunderstorm.

• Hurricanes: Huge, powerful tropical storms with heavy rain and high winds.

Weather Instruments

• Barometer: A tool that measures air pressure.

• Thermometer: A tool that measures air temperature.

• Anemometer: A tool that measures wind speed.

• Wind vane: A tool that points in the direction the wind is blowing.

• Rain gauge: A tool that measures the amount of rain or precipitation fallen.