Studied by 6 peopleweather
The current state of the atmosphere
Atmosphere
Layers of gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide surrounding the Earth
Troposphere
Lowest layer of the atmosphere; the top is located between 6 and 17 kilometres from the Earth's surface.
Temperature
Objective measurement of hot or cold conditions
Precipitation
Water, in any chemical state, that falls from the atmosphere; including, drizzle, rain, snow and hail.
Wind
The movement of air through the atmosphere.
Isotherm
Line in a map that shows equal temperature
Evaporation
The change from a liquid to a gaseous chemical state.
Transpiration
Water that evaporates from vegetation
Condensate
The change from a gaseous to a liquid chemical state.
Atmospheric pressure
Pressure, or weight, of the air in the atmosphere
Isobars
Lines in a map that show equal atmospheric pressure
climate
The average weather over an extended period.
Climate graph
A graph which shows average temperature and precipitation throughout the year
Maritime effect
Places close to the North Sea experience this effect: it is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter
Sea current
Movement of sea water
Warm front
Edge of a warm air mass facing a cold front.
Cold front
Edge of a cool air mass facing a warm front.
Frontal rainfall
Rainfall caused by the meeting of a warm and cold front.
Mediterranean climate
Climate zone with moderate temperatures and a dry summer
Maritime climate
Climate zone with moderate temperatures and precipitation throughout the year.
Continental climate
Warm summer and cold winter, precipitation throughout the year
Climate zones
Divisions of the Earth's climate based on average temperature and precipitation.
Tree line
Boundary along altitude or latitude above which no trees grow.
Snow line
Boundary along altitude or latitude above which snow persists all year round.
Altitude
Height of the Earth's surface.
Orographic rainfall
Rainfall caused by air that is pushed up by a mountain ridge.
Windward side
Upwind. The side from where wind is coming; the wet side of a mountain range.
Leeward side
Downwind. The side to where wind is blowing; the dry side of a mountain range.
Rain shadow
The area that receives little rainfall on the leeward side of a mountain.
Tropic of Cancer
Northern boundary of the tropics located at 23.4° N.
Tropic of Capricorn
Southern boundary of the tropics located at 23.4° S.
Subtropics
Zone which bounds the tropics.
Tropical rainforest climate
Climate zone with high temperatures and precipitation throughout the year.
Savannah climate
Climate zone with high temperatures and a specific dry period.
Monsoon climate
Climate zone with high temperatures and a specific dry period and also very high precipitation events during the wet season
Convectional rainfall
Precipitation caused by incoming solar radiation.
Hadley cell
Tropical atmospheric circulation.
Trade winds
Prevailing winds in the tropics, blowing from east to west.
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
Area where the northern and southern trade winds come together, causing rising air and thunderstorms.
Monsoon
Seasonal weather changes in precipitation due to the movement of the ITCZ, and convectional rainfall.
Sea breeze
Wind coming from the sea.
Land breeze
Wind coming from the land.
Arid
Dry
Desert climate
Climate zone with very little to no precipitation and high evaporation.
Steppe climate
Climate zone with some precipitation during the wet season, nearly balanced with evaporation rate.
Subtropic maximum
Area of high atmospheric pressure located in the subtropics; the air mass descends.
Polar maximum
Area of high atmospheric pressure located in the polar regions; the air mass descends.
Subpolar minimum
Area of low atmospheric pressure located in the middle latitudes; the air mass rises.
Prevailing wind direction
Most common wind direction.
Westerlies
Most common wind direction in the middle latitudes; a wind that blows from west to east.
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