climwte/ severe weather

Drought

When there is a long period of very little precipitation. Ends when enough precipitation falls to bring water levels back to normal

Flood

Water that flows over onto dry land. Usually result from thunderstorms or hurricanes

Thunderstorm

A lot of lightning, heavy rain and strong winds. Usually occur in warm weather. Can produce hail.

Tornado

Funnel-shaped cloud of swirling winds that reaches the ground.

Waterspout

Tornado over the water

Derecho

Fast-moving wind storm, straight line winds during a thunderstorm

Hurricane

strong swirling winds and produces heavy rains, forms over warm ocean water

Blizzard

Snowstorms with strong winds

Civil engineer

An engineer who has studied design and construction. Plan construction of bridges and buildings

Climate

Pattern of weather in an area for a long period of time

Season

Pattern of warm and cold weather or wet and dry weather

Equator

Imaginary line around the widest part of the earth

Climate zone

An area of the world that has a certain type of climate. Earth has 3. Polar, temperate, and tropical

Polar climate zone

North and south poles, almost always cold, usually dry and not much precipitation. Very little sunlight. Months of complete darkness and 24 hour sun.

Temperate climate zone

Middle, not too hot, not too cold for long periods of time. Receive rain and snow. 4 seasons.

Tropical climate zone

Near equator, very hot and times of very heavy rainfall. Rainforests. Large deserts. Most sunlight and heat on earth. 2 seasons. Wet and dry season.

Weather

Condition of the air at a certain time and place

Predict

Make a careful guess at what may happen

Meteorologist

Scientist who studies weather

Weather satellite

Used to gather information about the weather and climate of the earth

Weather forecast

Prediction of coming weather

Map key

Tells us what symbols mean

Rain gauge

Measures the amount of rain that falls

Thermometer

Tool used to measure temperature

Weathervane

Shows which direction the wind is blowing

Anemometer

Weather tool that measures wind speed

Cloud

Collection of very tiny water droplets or ice crystals

Stratus clouds

Wide thin layer of clouds

Low clouds that look like blanket

Gray skies

Not heavy rain

Fog

Cloud that forms close to the ground

Warm air blows over cold air

Cumulus clouds

Fluffy, cotton-like clouds

Fair weather

Can grow large and tall forming thunderclouds which bring stormy weather

Cirrus clouds

High, thin, wispy clouds

Can mean change in weather

Precipitation

Water that falls from the sky to the ground

Water cycle

Moves water from earth back to the sky and back to earth again

Evaporation

When water changes from liquid to gas

Forms gas called water vapor

Condensation

Gas changes to liquid

When cooled water vapor forms clouds

Clouds grow with more water vapor

Rain

Liquid that falls when temperature is above freezing

Hail

Forms in thunderstorms, large ice pellets

Sleet

Starts as water that freezes into tiny ice pellets

Snow

Ice shaped into tiny crystals

Wind

Moving air, caused by change in temperature