Meteorology and Atmosphere

What is meteorology?

The study of the atmosphere and the changes that occur within it.

What does meteorology aim to do?

Predict future weather and climate trends from current conditions.

What variables do meteorologists study?

Air temperature, air pressure, wind speed and humidity.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is the atmosphere's short-term condition; climate is the long-term pattern.

What is Earth's atmosphere?

A layer of gases surrounding Earth that makes conditions suitable for life.

Name the five layers of Earth's atmosphere, from the ground outward.

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere.

What happens to air pressure as you move outward through the atmosphere?

It decreases, because each layer is less affected by Earth's gravity.

Which atmospheric layer is closest to Earth?

The troposphere.

Which atmospheric layer is farthest from Earth?

The exosphere.

What are the three types of weather front?

Stationary, cold and warm.

What is a stationary front?

A cold air mass and a warm air mass meeting and not moving.

What is a warm front?

A warm air mass colliding with and riding over a cold air mass.

What weather does a warm front bring?

Long periods of precipitation and warmer temperatures.

What is a cold front?

A cold air mass colliding with a warm air mass and pushing the warm air upward.

What weather does a cold front bring?

Cooler temperatures, and events such as thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Which front is associated with thunderstorms and tornadoes?

The cold front.

What are clouds formed from?

Water condensation.

What are the three main cloud types?

Stratus, cumulus and cirrus.

What are stratus clouds?

Low-elevation clouds spread over a large area, typically signalling precipitation.

What are cumulus clouds?

Medium-level fluffy clouds, flat on the bottom, usually signalling fair weather — unless the bottoms are dark, which signals rain.

What are cirrus clouds?

High, wispy clouds made of ice crystals, typically signalling fair weather.

Which cloud type is highest, and what is it made of?

Cirrus — ice crystals.

Which cloud type usually means rain is coming?

Stratus.