Weather and Climate

Science GACE

Windward Side

the side of a mountain facing the incoming wind

Weather

a measure of an area's short-term atmospheric conditions

Tropics

the region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude); warm temperatures; high rainfall

Temperate Zones

The areas between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn(23.5 degrees N and S) and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles (66.5 degrees N and S)

Blizzard

Heavily falling or blowing snow that causes snowdrifts and makes it difficult to see.

Polar

the region between 66.5 degrees north and south latitudes and the poles; cool summers and extremely cold winters; low rainfall

Levee

A wall that keeps water from flooding an area; often built of rock, dirt or sand.

Cold Fronts

boundaries of an advancing mass of cold air; signified on a weather map by a blue line with blue triangles

Hurricane

A huge rotating storm system that forms over warm ocean water, causing severe wind, rain, storm surges and tornadoes when it reaches land.

Lightning

a huge electrical spark within clouds, between clouds, or between the ground and clouds

Isobars

lines on a weather map connecting two areas of similar barometric pressure

Synoptic Chart

a weather map which includes pressure patterns, fronts, wind direction, and speed

Rain Shadow Effect

the phenomenon in which desert-like conditions appear on the leeward side of a mountain or mountain range.

Northern Hemisphere

The half of the earth north of the equator

Continental Tropical (cT)

A warm, dry air mass that formed over tropical landmasses

Coriolis Effect

A curving of the flow of wind or water caused by Earth's rotation; to the right in the northern hemisphere, to the left in the southern hemisphere.

Tornado

Rotating air from a thunderstorm that produces high wind speeds; typically lasting only 5 - 10 minutes.

Continental Polar Air Mass (cP)

A cold, dry air mass that formed over polar landmasses

Leeward Side

the side of the mountain facing opposite from the incoming wind

Sleet

Partially solid water that falls to the earth as water and ice pellets.

Tsunami

An energetic ocean wave in deep water caused by an underwater earthquake, its height increasing as it approaches land. 

Maritime Tropical Air Mass (mT)

A warm, moist air mass that formed over tropical oceans

Air Masses

Regions of warm or cold, wet or dry air that tend to move as a unit across Earth's surface, carrying their temperature and humidity compositions with them

Maritime Polar Air Mass (mP)

A cold, moist air mass that formed over polar oceans

Artificial Satellites

devices in Earth's orbit which collect weather data and allow scientists to quickly monitor atmospheric conditions

Continental Arctic Air Mass (cA)

A frigid, dry air mass that formed over arctic landmasses

Latitude

The horizontal lines of the grid system that measure distance above and below the Equator

Southern Hemisphere

The half of the earth south of the equator

Ensemble Forecast Models

a weather model which uses several models at one time in order to determine the models’ validity; if all the models predict the same weather conditions, they are likely correct

Stationary Fronts

Fronts that forms when a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet; brings lingering precipitation

Hail

large chunks of ice that fall to the earth during severe weather

Specific Heat Capacity

the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 mass unit of the material by 1 degree

Humidity

a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air

Snow

Solid water crystals that fall to the earth as snowflakes.

Occluded Fronts

When a warm air mass gets stuck between two cold air masses and lifted away from the Earth's surface. Causes dropping temperatures and rain; signified on a weather map by purple lines with purple triangles and semicircles next to each other.

Computer Forecast Models

a weather model, usually in text or map format, which uses data collected from weather balloons, satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations around the world to determine the likelihood of thunderstorm conditions developing

Cumulonimbus Clouds

multi-level clouds; impressive, towering appearance; indicate thunderstorms and severe weather

Surface Current

a river-like flow of water of different temperature within Earth's oceans

Thunderstorm

Cloudy, rainy conditions with high winds, thunder and lightning.

Wildfire

An uncontrolled fire that destroys plants, animals, and habitats over a large region.

Troughs (on a Weather Map)

areas where air is turbulent and unstable; signified on a weather map by a black line

Climate

a measure of an area's long-term weather patterns

Orographic Lift

A redirection of wind when it is forced upward to travel over the top of the mountain and then down the other side

Warm Fronts

boundaries of an advancing mass of warm air; signified on a weather map by a red line with red semicircles

The climate in a specific location is affected the most by:

latitude, elevation, and ocean currents.

Symbols on a meteorologist's weather map are best used to show:

wind movement.

When a meteorologist says: "The humidity is very high in Houston, Texas, today," what is he referring to?

amount of moisture in the air

Climate is different than weather because weather:

changes on a daily basis.

The three major climatic zones of the Earth include:

tropical, temperate, and polar.

Mr. Gwynn finds that only one or two students answer when he asks the class questions about the effects of land on climate. Which of the following is the best technique for getting more students to respond?

Have the students pair up, ask the question, let students discuss the answer with their partner, then ask the question again of the entire class.

Which of the following drives deep-ocean thermohaline currents?

vertical temperature differences, salinity differences

According to the weather chart, what formation is currently in the middle of the great plains?

a cold front

According to the weather chart, what formation is currently over the Gulf of Mexico?

a cold front

Which of the following is most likely to cause the patterns of surface currents that exist in the ocean?

uneven heating of the Earth