Weather & Climate

Air Pressure

A force exerted by the weight of a column of air on a surface

Troposhere

The lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. ranges from 0Km - 12Km. Temperature decreases as altitude increases.

Weather

The conditions of the atmosphere in a particular place at a particular time

Stratosphere

The second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. Ranges from 12km - 50km in altitude. Air temperature increases as altitude increases

Ozone layer

The upper portion of the stratosphere. The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun

Mesosphere

The third layer of the atmosphere. Ranges from 50km - 80km. Temperature decreases as altitude increases. meteors that enter the atmosphere burn up in the mesosphere

Thermosphere

The outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. Ranges from 80km - 400km. Air temperature increases as altitude increases

Wind

The movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, driven by uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

Humidity

The amount of water vapor present in the air, expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount the air can hold at a given temperature

Dew Point

The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture, causing water vapor to condense into dew.

cloud

A visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, forming when moist air rises and cools.

Cirrus clouds

thin, wispy clouds made of ice crystals generally found at high altitudes, often signaling fair weather.

Cumulus Clouds

fluffy, white clouds that have a flat bottom and billow up vertically, often indicate fair weather and form from rising warm air.

Stratus clouds

low, gray clouds that cover the sky like a blanket, often bringing overcast conditions and light precipitation.

nimbo or nimbus

A type of cloud that is associated with precipitation, often appearing dark and thick. Nimbostratus clouds provide continuous rainfall, while cumulonimbus clouds can produce thunderstorms.

weather front

The boundary where two or more air masses meet and interact, leading to changes in weather, such as precipitation or a shift in temperature.

warm front

A type of weather front that occurs when warm air rises over cooler air, often leading to gradual temperature increases and prolonged precipitation.

cold front

A type of weather front that occurs when cold air displaces warm air, typically resulting in a quick drop in temperature and increased precipitation, often with thunderstorms.

occluded front

A type of weather front that forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air mass off the ground and leading to complex weather patterns, often including precipitation.

stationary front

A type of weather front that occurs when opposing air masses are in a stalemate, leading to prolonged weather conditions, often resulting in precipitation.