Weather Quiz #1

Climate factor - Land Types

Mountains can block air; high elevations are usually cooler than low elevations

weather

short-term conditions of he atmosphere that can change minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, etc.

weather conditions

properties that compose the state of the atmosphere (temperature, wind, cloud coverage, etc.)

weather events

combinations and interactions of weather conditions that occur at a specific time and place (tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, etc.)

matter

the "stuff" that makes up the world around us (solids, liquids, and gasses); matter must have mass and volume

energy

the ability to do work (how things change and move)

wind

the movement of air often as the result of convection currents

temperature

the measure of the amount of thermal energy

precipitation

particles of matter (solid or liquid) that fall from the sky after becoming too heavy to stay suspended in the atmosphere (ex/ hail, snow, rain, etc.)

humidity

the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere; warm air holds more moisture than cool air

air pressure

the force exerted on a surface by the air above it; air pressure can indicate fair weather conditions and poor weather conditions

dew point

temperature at which water vapor (gas) condenses back to liquid water (liquid); the higher the dew point, the more moisture there is in the air

visibility

the distance you can see as determined by the amount of light and weather conditions (fog, mist, smog, etc.)

rain

liquid precipitation

snow

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

hail

precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents

climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time (minimum of 30 years)

Climate factor - Sun

hits the Earth unevenly; places near the equator receive more light → warmer temperatures

Climate factor - Oceans

Water warms the land in the winter and cools the land in the summer

Climate factor - Winds

Bring moisture and air of different temperatures

Climate factor - Clouds

Block sunlight (heat) from the sun during the day; clouds keep heat from escaping during the night

Climate factor - Human Activities

Global warming trapping heat from burning fossil fuels and gases

Tropical Climate

Warm all year, have no winter; lie near the equator; may be humid or dry

Subtropical Climate

N & S of the tropical climates; greater range of humidity and temperatures

Cyclonic Climate

N of the equator; cold air from the N and warm air from the S result in warm summers and colder winters

Polar Climate

Very cold; snow & ice cover land; may have permafrost (layer of frost below the soil)

Highland Climate

Great range of temperatures day/night; humid and cooler

Rain gauge

An instrument used to measure precipitation.

Hygrometer

an instrument for measuring humidity

Anemometer

An instrument used to measure wind speed

Barometer

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

Thermometer

An instrument used to measure temperature

clouds

Collections of particles of water or ice suspended in the air that are visible above the earth's surface

fog

A cloud at ground level.

cirrus clouds

Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels. Typically do not produce precipitation

stratus clouds

look like flat blankets and are usually the lowest clouds in the sky

nimbostratus

Clouds that are low-level, uniform layer, usually very dark, that bring strong precipitation

cumulus

clouds that look like fluffy, rounded piles of cotton

cumulonimbus

A type of cumulus cloud that is tall and gray, and associated with thunderstorms.

stratus, nimbostratus, and cumulus

low altitude clouds

altocumulus and altostratus

middle altitude clouds

cirrostratus, cirrus, and cirrocumulus

high altitude clouds

air mass

A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at any given height

condensation nuclei

small particles in the atmosphere around which cloud droplets can form

evaporation

Liquid to gas

condensation

Gas to liquid

freezing

liquid to solid

High altitude clouds

They are typically thin and white in appearance, but can appear in a magnificent array of colors when the sun is low on the horizon.

Middle altitude clouds

Clouds composed primarily of water droplets. However, they can be composed of ice crystals when temperatures are low enough.

Low altitude clouds

Clouds composed of water droplets

stratus / strato

Cloud Naming; describe clouds that are flat, layered, and smooth

cumulus / cumulo

Cloud Naming; describe clouds that are heaped up and puffy

cirrus / cirro

Cloud Naming; describe feathery clouds, high, feathery ice clouds

alto

Cloud Naming; describe medium level clouds

nimbo / nimbus

Cloud Naming; describes rain-bearing clouds