question

Which term means the condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time?

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Weather

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What is a cloud made of?

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a collection of millions of tiny water droplets or ice crystals

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List the 4 parts of the Water Cycle (figure 1 on p. 482) and what happens in each part

answer

precipitation condensation evaporation runoff

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Precipitation

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occurs when rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls from the clouds onto Earth's surface

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Condensation

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occurs when water vapor cools and changes from a gas to a liquid. Clouds form by this process.

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Evaporation

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occurs when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas.

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Runoff

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is water, usually from precipitation, that flows across land and collects in rivers, streams, and eventually the ocean.

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The amount of moisture in the air compared to the maximum air can hold is

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relative humidity

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What is a relative humidity at 100% called?

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Saturated

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What instrument measures relative humidity?

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Psychrometer

question

the temperature at which a gas condenses into a liquid.

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dew point

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different types of clouds

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cumulous, stratus, cirrus,

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Cumulous

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Puffy, white clouds that tend to have flat bottoms are called cumulus clouds Cumulus clouds form when warm air rises. These clouds generally indicate fair weather. However, when these clouds get larger, they produce thunderstorms. Thunderstorms come from a kind of cumulus cloud called a cumulonimbus cloud Clouds that have names that include -nimbus or nimbo- are likely to produce precipitation.

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Stratus

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Clouds called stratus clouds are clouds that form in layers. Stratus clouds cover large areas of the sky and often block out the sun. These clouds can be caused by a gentle lifting of a large body of air into the atmosphere. Nimbostratus clouds are dark stratus clouds that usually produce light to heavy, continuous rain. Fog is a stratus cloud that has formed near the ground.

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Cirrus

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thin, feathery, white clouds found at high altitudes. Cirrus clouds form when the wind is strong. If they get thicker, cirrus clouds indicate that a change in the weather is coming.

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The prefix cirro-

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is used to describe clouds that form at high altitudes

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The prefix alto-

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describes clouds that form at middle altitudes.

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The prefix Nimbo -

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Clouds that have names that include -nimbus or nimbo- are likely to produce precipitation.

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Name the 4 types of precipitation

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rain, sleet, snow, hail

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Rain -

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A cloud produces rain when the water drops in the cloud become a certain size

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Sleet

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forms when rain falls through a layer of freezing air

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Snow

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forms when temperatures are so cold that water vapor changes directly to a solid Balls or lumps of ice that fall from clouds are called hail

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air mass

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a large body of air where temperature and moisture content are similar throughout

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What causes changes in weather?

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Changes in weather are caused by the movement and interaction of air masses

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Cold Front: What happens? What type of weather does it bring?

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A cold front forms where cold air moves under warm air, which is less dense, and pushes the warm air up. Cold fronts can move quickly and bring thunderstorms, heavy rain, or snow. Cooler weather usually follows a cold front because the air mass behind the cold front is cooler and drier than the air mass that it is replacing

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Warm Front: What happens? What type of Weather does it bring?

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A warm front forms where warm air moves over cold, denser air. In a warm front, the warm air gradually replaces the cold air. Warm fronts generally bring drizzly rain and are followed by clear and warm weather.

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Occluded Front: What happens? What type of weather does it bring?

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An occluded front forms when a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses. The coldest air mass moves under and pushes up the warm air mass. The coldest air mass then moves forward until it meets a cold air mass that is warmer and less dense. The colder of these two air masses moves under and pushes up the warmer air mass. Sometimes, though, the two colder air masses mix. An occluded front has cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow.

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Stationary Front: What happens? What type of weather does it bring?

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A stationary front forms when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass. In this case, however, both air masses do not have enough force to lift the warm air mass over the cold air mass. So, the two air masses remain separated. This may happen because there is not enough wind to keep the air masses pushing against each other. A stationary front often brings many days of cloudy, wet weather.

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Define front

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The area in which two types of air masses meet

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What is the difference between a cyclone and an anticyclone? (know definitions)

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Areas that have lower pressure than the surrounding areas do are called cyclones Areas that have high pressure are called anticyclones.

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What is lightning? (Include the information about positive and negative charges).

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small, intense weather systems that produce strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder

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Describe the example the textbook gives what lightning is similar to (p.497)

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While you walk around, friction between the floor and your shoes builds up an electric charge in your body. When you touch someone else, the charge is released.

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Tornadoes happen in only ___ % of thunderstorms

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1%

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About __% of the worlds tornadoes occur in the United States.

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75%

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What is the most dangerous thing about a tornado?

answer

Strong spinning winds

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What type of air pressure is involved with tornadoes (low) or (high)?

answer

Low central pressure

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What is the difference between a hurricane, typhoon and cyclone?

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A large, rotating tropical weather system that has wind speeds of at least 120 km/h is called a hurricane. Hurricanes have different names in different parts of the world. In the western Pacific Ocean, hurricanes are called typhoons. Hurricanes that form over the Indian Ocean are called cyclones

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What does a hurricane start as?

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A hurricane begins as a group of thunderstorms moving over tropical ocean waters

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How does a hurricane lose energy?

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When the hurricane moves into colder waters or over land, it begins to die because it has lost its source of energy

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What is the most dangerous thing about a hurricane?

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Storm surge

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What is the difference between a severe weather watch and warning?

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A watch is a weather alert that lets people know that a tornado may happen. A warning is a weather alert that lets people know that a tornado has been spotted

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what you need to do to keep safe for Thunderstorm

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If you are outside, stay away from trees, which can get struck down. If you are in the open, crouch down. Stay away from bodies of water.

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what you need to do to keep safe for Tornado

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If there is a tornado warning for your area, find shelter quickly. The best place to go is a basement or cellar. Or you can go to a windowless room in the center of the building, such as a bathroom, closet, or hallway. If you are outside, lie down in a large, open field or a deep ditch.

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what you need to do to keep safe for Flood

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The best thing to do during a flood is to find a high place to wait out the flood. You should always stay out of floodwaters. Even shallow water can be dangerous if it is moving fast

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what you need to do to keep safe for Hurricane

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People living on the shore may be asked to evacuate the area. If you live in an area where hurricanes strike, your family should have a disaster supply kit that includes enough water and food to last several days. To protect the windows in your home, you should cover them with plywood. Most important, you must stay indoors during the storm.

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What is the eye of a hurricane?

answer

a core of warm, relatively calm air with low pressure and light winds.

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Thermometer

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A tool used to measure air temperature

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Barometer

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an instrument used to measure air pressure

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Anemometer

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An instrument used to measure wind speed

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Windsock

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Wind direction can be measured by using a windsock or a wind vane

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Radar

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Radar is used to find the location, movement, and amount of precipitation. It can also detect what form of precipitation a weather system is carrying

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Doppler Radar

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Doppler radar used in a local TV weather report. Figure 3 shows how Doppler radar is used to track precipitation

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Weather Satellites

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Weather satellites that orbit Earth provide the images of weather systems that you see on TV weather reports. Satellites can track storms and measure wind speeds, humidity, and temperatures at different altitudes

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What are isobars?

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Isobars are lines that connect points of equal air pressure

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at does a weather balloon measure? _____ and ____

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By tracking weather balloons meteorologists can also measure wind speed and direction

question

Climate vs. weather organizer. Create a Venn Diagram to compare and contract climate and weather

answer

The main difference between weather and climate is the length of time over which both are measured. Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time. Weather conditions vary from day to day and include temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility. Climate, on the other hand, is the average weather condition in an area over a long period of time. Climate is mostly determined by two factors—temperature and precipitation.

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What is latitude?

answer

the distance north or south, measured in degrees, from the equator.

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The amount of solar energy a particular area receives is determined by___________

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The amount of direct solar energy a particular area receives is determined by latitude.

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Which area of the globe experiences about the same temperatures all year round? Why?

answer

areas near the equator have approximately the same temperatures and same amount of daylight year-round

question

What cause the earth's seasons?

answer

Seasons happen because the Earth is tilted on its axis at a 23.5º angle. This tilt affects how much solar energy an area receives as Earth moves around the sun. Figure 4 shows how latitude and the tilt of the Earth determine the seasons and the length

question

What are the prevailing winds?

answer

Winds that blow mainly from one direction

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Factors that influence an area's climate: Mountains

answer

As the elevation increases, the ability of air to transfer energy from the ground to the atmosphere decreases. Therefore, as elevation increases, temperature decreases. Mountains also affect the climate of nearby areas by influencing the distribution of precipitation.

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Large Bodies of Water

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Water absorbs and releases heat slower than land does. Because of this quality, water helps to moderate the temperatures of the land around it

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Ocean Currents

answer

As surface currents move, they carry warm or cool water to different locations. The surface temperature of the water affects the temperature of the air above it. Warm currents heat the surrounding air and cause warmer temperatures. Cool currents cool the surrounding air and cause cooler temperatures

Weather and Climate Study Guide – Ch 16 & Ch 17-1 – Flashcards

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