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EARTH SCI EXAM REVIEW VOCAB

Dew point

Temperature at which condensation begins

Cumulus

Clouds that form at low altitudes and indicate fair weather

Cirrus

Clouds that form at high altitudes, made of ice crystals, and indicate fair/good weather

Stratus

Clouds that form at low to middle altitudes, produce drizzle, rain or snow

Cumulonimbus

Clouds associated with extreme weather such as heavy downpours, hail storms, lightning, and tornadoes

Nimbostratus

Clouds that indicate continuous moderate rain or snow

Altostratus

Indicates precipitation later in the day. Higher then stratus lower then cirrus

Altocumulus

Indicates precipitation later in the day. Higher then cirrus

Cirrocumulus

Indicates a storm is on its way.

Fog

Low clouds at ground level.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface.

Rain gauge

Used to determine the amount of rain that falls in a particular area.

Freezing rain

Raindrops fall as liquid but freeze when they come into contact with a cold surface.

Sleet

Raindrops fall through air that is 0C, freezing the water to solid.

Hail

Only forms inside cumulonimbus during a thunderstorm.

Snow

Water vapor that changes directly to ice crystals.

Flood

Overflowing of water in a normally dry area.

Drought

Caused by dry weather systems that remain in one place for weeks or months at a time.

Dam

Barrier across a river that redirects the flow or stores floodwaters

Levee

Embankment built along a river to prevent flooding of surrounding land.

Weather

The condition of the earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place. It constantly changes

Atmosphere

The envelope of gases surrounding the planet.

Water vapor

A gas that cannot be seen. If you see water in the air, it is precipitating, cloudy, or steam.

Density

The amount of mass per unit of volume.

Air pressure

The force pushing on an area or surface.

Barometer

Used to measure pressure. There are two types, mercury and aneroid.

Altitude

The elevation above sea level.

Troposphere

Layer where weather occurs, contains most mass

Stratosphere

Layer containing the ozone layer, protects from ultraviolet radiation

Mesosphere

Middle layer. Protects Earth's surface from being hit by meteoroids.

Thermosphere

Outermost layer. You don't feel it because the air moves so fast.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid between areas of differing temperatures and therefore density.

Radiation

Direct transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. Can't see it but you can feel it (Ex:warming of your skin by the sun's rays/heat).

Conduction

Transfer of heat directly between two substances. Occurs best when molecules are in close contact with each other.

Greenhouse effect

A process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat.

Temperature

The average amount of energy of motion of each particle of a substance.

Thermal energy

Measures the total energy of motion in the particles of a substance (mass of a substance).