Praxis - elementary education- science (5905)

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wildfire

an uncontrolled fire that destroys plants, animals, and habitats over a large region.

spring tide

greater tidal effects due to the sun, moon, and earth being alligned

channel

a waterway between two landforms

lightning

a huge electrical spark within clouds, between clouds, or between the ground and clouds

continental shelf

the gently sloping part of the continent that is under the ocean’s surface

warm fronts

boundaries of an advancing mass of warm air: signified on a weather map by a red line with red semicircles

Island chain/ archipelago

a group of islands near each other, formd by volcanic activity

Polar

the region bewteen 66.5 degrees north and south latitudes and the poles; cool summers and exrtemely cold winters; low rainfall

EX: antartica

deltas

depositions of sediment at the mouth of a river due to the slowing of the flow of water carrying the sediments

ex: nile river delta

Estuary

The region where a river meets the ocean; composed of brackish water

tides

rising and falling sea levels due to the sun’s and moon’s gravity and the rotation of the earth

mid level clouds

clouds at an altitude between 6,500 and 23,000 feet above earth’s surface; includes altocumulus, altostratus, and nimbostratus clouds

neap tide

lesser tidal effects due to the sun and moon pulling on the earth from different directions

tropics

the region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude) nd the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude);warm temperatures; high rainfall

exosphere

a layer in the atmosphere which provides a boundary between the themosphere and outer space

troposhere

the layer of gases closest to the earth where weather occurs

Reservoir

Large body of still surface water similar to a lake; used for recreation, as a water supply or for hydroelectic power

surface current

a river-like flow of water of different temperature within Earth’s oceans

Orographic clouds

clouds which are formed from mountains, hills, or sea breezes moving air

mesoshpere

the coldest layer in the atmosphere; protects the earth from meteoroids

air masses

regions of warm or cold, wet or dry ai that tend to move as a unit across earth’s surface, carrying their temperature and humidity compositions with them

southern hemisphere

the half of the earth south of the equator

ensemble forecast models

a weather model which uses several models at one time in order to determine the models’s validity; if all the models predict the same weather conditions, they are likely correct

snow

solid water crystals that fall to the earth as snowflakes

contrails

clouds formed from condensed water vapor from the exhaust of jet planes

tablemount/ guyot

an underwater mountain with a flat top

ocean ridge

a feature of increased elevation at the boundary between two tectonic plates; formed at a divergent plate boundary

stratus clouds

low clouds; misty, foggy clouds; indicate fair but gloomy weather

hurricane

a huge rotating storm system that forms over warm ocean water, causing severe wind, rain, storm surges and tornadoes when it reached land.

meteoroids

small bodies of debris from space which move into Earth’s atmoshere and can then turn into meteors

atoll

a ring-shped island or coral reef atop submarine volcanoes

thermosphere

a very thin layer of atmosphere which has high temperatures; contains the inosphere and exosphere

glacier

a large mass or block of ice; flow at a very slow rate and can carve valleys

maritime tropical air mass (mT)

a warm, moist air mass that formed over tropical oceans

altocumulus clouds

mid-level coulds; layered, patchy clouds; indicate fair weather

continental arctic air mass (cA)

a frigid, dry air mass that formed over arctic landmasses

atmosphere

the gases surrounding the surface of the earth

evaporation

a phase change from the liquid state to the gas state

clouds

a formation created when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid or ice crystals

weather

a measure of an area’s short-term atmosphereic conditions

salinity

a measure of the amount of salts that are dissolved in water

northern hemisphere

the half of the earth north of the equator

isobars

lines on a weather map connecting two areas of similar barometric pressure

maritime polar air mass (mP)

a cold, moist air mass that formed over polar oceans

lagoon

a small protected body of water; separated from the ocean by a thin stretch of land

equator

the center line of latitude around the middle of the earth that divides the globe into a northern and southern hemisphere

ocean trench

a long crevasse or fissure in the ocean floor; formed in a subduction zone at a convergent plate boundary

condensation

a phase change from the gas state to the liquid state

water vapor

water in the gas phase

islands

small land masses not connected to any continent and surrounded on all sides by water

river

a large stream that flows over land, usually carrying a large amound of freshwater

continental polar air mas (cP)

a cold, dry air mass that formed over polar landmasses

tornado

rotating air from a thunderstorm that produces high wind speeds; typically lasting only 5-10 minutes

gulf

an inlet of the sea or ocean bordered on several sides by land

continental slope

the region where the continental shelf meets the continental rise; this region is sloped to connect the two

thunderstorm

cloudy, rainy conditions with high winds, thunder and lightning.

alluvial fan

a fan shaped deposit of sediments at the mouth or opening of a canyon or river

cirrus clouds

high clouds; feathery clouds made mostly of ice crystals; indicate a change in the weather

water cycle/ hydrologic cycle

the process by which water circulates between the earth and the atmosphere

inonsphere

a layer of ions and free electrons in the atmosphere; can reflect and direct radio waves

hail

large chunks of ice that fall to the earth during severe weather

Continental Tropical (cT)

A warm, dry air mass that formed over tropical landmasses

Bank (ocean)

an area of higher elevation compared to the seafloor around it, such as a sumbarine hill

Cumulonimbus Clouds

multi-level clouds; impressive, towering appearance; indicate thunderstorms and severe weather

synoptic chart

a weather map which includes pressure patterns, fronts, wind direction, and speed

stream

a natural, flowing waterway; smaller than a river; composed of freshwater

Barrier Islands

islands of deposited sand and sediments which run parallel to the coastline

low clouds

clouds at an altitude below 6,500 feet; includes cumulus, stratus, cumulonimbus, and stratocumulus clouds

canal

a man-made waterway made to allow boats to pass through or to transport water for irrigation purposes

humidity

a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air

occluded fronts

When a warm air mass gets stuck between two cold air masses and lifted away from the Earth's surface. Causes dropping temperatures and rain; signified on a weather map by purple lines with purple triangles and semicircles next to each other.

percolate

to travel from the surface to groundwater through the spaces between soil and rock particles

Air Pressure / Atmospheric Pressure

the force exerted on an area due to the weight of the air in the atmosphere above

bay

an inlet of the ocean that is partially enclosed or surrounded by land; the mouth opens to the ocean

Precipitation

water which falls to the earth due to gravity

sound

a large inlet of the ocean

bulges

areas on the earth in line with the moon's gravity which have a larger amount of water

Cirrocumulus Clouds

high clouds; thin, patchy, grainy appearance; indicate fair weather

Stationary Fronts

Fronts that forms when a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet; brings lingering precipitation

Ultraviolet Radiation

radiant energy which can heat up the planet and damage the cells of living organisms

Cirrostratus Clouds

high clouds; veil-like, thin clouds that cover the whole sky; seen in winter; cause a halo effect around the sun; indicate incoming rain or snow

Lake

a landlocked basin filled with water; usually freshwater. Can be used for recreation, fishing, hydroelectric power, and/or as a water source

Altostratus Clouds

mid-level clouds; gray clouds that cover the whole sky; indicate rain or snow

Cold fronts

boundaries of an advancing mass of cold air; signified on a weather map by a blue line with blue triangles

High tides

higher water levels due to the gravity of the moon and sun

Coriolis Effect

A curving of the flow of wind or water caused by Earth's rotation; to the right in the northern hemisphere, to the left in the southern hemisphere.

Artificial Satellites

devices in Earth's orbit which collect weather data and allow scientists to quickly monitor atmospheric conditions

climate

a measure of an area's long-term weather patterns

cliffs

sharp drop offs from the coast or rocks into the sea below

Seamount

an underwater mountain

Ozone Layer

a layer of ozone in the stratosphere that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth's surface

Littoral Zone

The horizontal ocean zone that includes the shoreline; it lies between the high and low tide marks

Stratosphere

the layer above the troposphere; contains jet streams and the ozone layer

Troughs (on a Weather Map)

areas where air is turbulent and unstable; signified on a weather map by a black line

Mammatus Clouds

one of the ten main varieties of clouds which has pouch-like shapes hanging from the bottom due to the movement of cold air

Tsunami

An energetic ocean wave in deep water caused by an underwater earthquake, its height increasing as it approaches land.

Continental Rise

the region where the continental slope meets the abyssal plain

Stratocumulus Clouds

low clouds; patchy, gray or white appearance; indicate an incoming storm

Surface Runoff

water which flows over the surface of the earth to a body of water

Sleet

Partially solid water that falls to the earth as water and ice pellets.