Intro to Meteorology

#1
Air Masses

large bodies of air that takes the characteristics of the area it is over

#2
Air Pressure

pressure that the air exerts on the Earth

#3
Albedo

the fraction of total radiation that is reflected by any surface

#4
Anemometer

an instrument that resembles a cup & is commonly used to measure wind speed

#5
Anticyclones

centers of high pressure

#6
Autumnal/Fall Equinox

September 22 or 23

#7
Barometer

instrument used to measure air pressure

#8
Biosphere

all of Earth's organisms & the environments in which they live

#9
Cirrus Clouds

wispy, stringy, clouds
means "hair"

#10
Climate

average weather of a particular area over a long period of time

#11
Cold Front

when cold, dense air moves into an area formerly occupied by warmer air

#12
Condensation

when a gas changes into a liquid

#13
Conduction

the direct transfer of energy from one substance to another

#14
Constants

controlled variable

#15
Control

standard placed in an experiment that remains unchanged
basis for comparison

#16
Cumulus Clouds

puffy, lumpy looking clouds
means "pile" or "heap"

#17
Cyclone

center of low pressure

#18
Dependent Variable

factor in an experiment that can change if the independent variable is changed
what you are measuring

#19
Deposition

changing from a gas to a solid, without going through the liquid state

#20
El Nino

the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean

#21
Equinoxes

daylight hours = dark/night hours
everywhere

#22
Evaporation

when liquid changes to a gas

#23
Eye

calm center of a tropical cyclone that developes when the winds around its center reach at least 120 km/h

#24
Eye Wall

band where the strongest winds in a hurricane are usually consentrated surrounding the eye

#25
Front

the boundary between 2 adjoining air masses having contrasting characteristics

#26
Fujita Scale

what tornado instensity is rated on

#27
Global Warming

the increase in the Earth's temperature caused by the increase in the Greenhouse Effect resulting especially from pollution

#28
Greenhouse Effect

the trapping of the sun's energy by Earth

#29
Humidity

the general amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

#30
Hurricane

a severe storm that developes over tropical oceans, having at least 75 mph winds

#31
Hypothesis

testable prediction or educated guess to solve a problem

#32
Independent Variable

what you are purposely changing

#33
Isobars

connect points of equal pressure on a weather map

#34
Isotherms

lines on a map that connect places that have the same temperature

#35
Jet Streams

fast-moving rivers of air that traveling between 120 & 240 kmph in a west to east motion

#36
La Nina

the cooling of the Pacific

#37
Latent Heat

the energy absorbed or released during a change in state
latent means "hidden"

#38
Latitude

distance north & south of the Equator, measured in degrees north & south

#39
Longitude

distance east & west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees east & west

#40
Mercator Projection Map

shows accurate directions but has distorted sizes & distances

#41
Meteorology

study of the atmosphere
characteristics: weather & climate
specialize in: agriculture, aviation, forestry, & health

#42
Monsoon

seasonal reversal of wind direction over large continents, such as Asia

#43
Occludded Front

boundary where a fast-moving cold air mass completely cuts off from the ground

#44
Orographic Lifting

when mountains act as barriers to the flow of air, forcing the air ta ascend

#45
Ozone

a form of oxygen that combines 3 oxygen atoms in each molecule(O3)
O - atom of oxygen (O)
O2 - atmospheric oxygen (O-O)
O3 - ozone (O-O-O)

#46
Prevailing Westerlies

flows between 30 & 60 north & south latitude in a circulation pattern opposite that of the trade winds

#47
Relative Humidity

the ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air compared with the amount that the air can hold

#48
Saffir-Sampson Scale

used to describe the intensity of a hurricane

#49
Spring Equinox

March 21 or 22

#50
Stationary Front

boundary where 2 air masses meet & neither is displaced
these do not move

#51
Storm Surge

abnormal rise of the sea along a shore because of strong winds

#52
Stratosphere

where the ozone layer is located

#53
Sumblimation

conversion of a solid to a gas without being a liquid

#54
Summer Solstice

June 21 or 22

#55
Temperature Inversion

where temperature increases instead of decreases with height

#56
Theory

well tested explanation

#57
Thermosphere

divided into the ionosphere & exosphere

#58
Topographic Map

represents Earth's surface in 3D
shows elevation, distance, directions, & slope angles

#59
Trade Winds

winds in both hemispheres flowing toward the Equator between 30 & 0 latitude

#60
Troposphere

where all weather occurs

#61
Warm Front

when warm air moves into an area formerly covered by cooler air

#62
Weather

the state of the atmosphere at any given time or place
includes - temperature, air movements, & moisture content

#63
Winter Solstice

December 21 or 22