Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
28 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
water cycle
|
The process of water evaporating, condensing and returning to the earth as precipitation.
|
|
|
evaporation
|
The transformation of liquid to a gas from heat from the sun.
|
|
|
condensation
|
The transition of a gas into a liquid due to cooling.
|
|
|
Cloud formation & shape
|
Rising air is cooled and water condenses on dust, smoke, or salt particles in the air. The droplets are so small they stay in the air and reflect sunlight. The shape of clouds is made by air movement.
|
|
|
Precipation
|
Falling moisture, such as rain, snow, sleet, and hail. It occurs when the water droplets are too large to be supported by the air.
|
|
|
How do winds effect on the rate of evaporation
|
It increases it because moist air is blown away and replaced with dry air (which can absorb more water).
|
|
|
Transpiration
|
When water vapor is released by animals (breathing) and plants (performing photosynthesis).
|
|
|
4 basic cloud types
|
Stratus, Cumulous, Nimbus, and Cirrus.
|
|
|
Stratus clouds
|
Low, light gray, horizontal layered clouds close to the earth that may cover the whole sky. Sometimes they come from fog. Come with moist weather like drizzle, snow, or small ice particles.
|
|
|
Cumulus clouds
|
Low white fluffy clouds with flat bases. The tops are bright and the bottoms often a bit darker. Usually associated with warm weather, but may become black on hot summer days.
|
|
|
Stratocumulus clouds
|
Low clouds that are large globs or light and dark rolls that cover the sky. They occur during winter and may cause a small amount of snow and are associated with cold fronts
|
|
|
Altocumulus clouds
|
Mid altitude clouds that are white and gray globs and rolls. Associated with rain and thunderstorms.
|
|
|
Cirrus Clouds
|
Are formed by ice crystals at a high altitude and have a wispy or feathery appearance. Associated with a change in the weather.
|
|
|
Cirrocumulus Clouds
|
Small globular white masses or ripples in groups or lines (mackerel sky). Formed with ice crystals at very high altitudes.
|
|
|
Nimbostratus (or Nimbus)Clouds
|
Low clouds that bring steady precipitation such as rain or snow. They block out sunlight.
|
|
|
Cumulonimbus clouds
|
Also called "thunderheads". Large and mushroom-like. Often are very low to the ground but may be very tall. Form on hot summer days and bring thunderstorms, heavy rains and hail, and sometimes even lightening.
|
|
|
Atmosphere
|
The layer of gases surrounding a planet.
|
|
|
Earth's atmosphere is mostly
|
Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%)
|
|
|
Troposphere
|
The lowest (first) layer of the atmosphere up to 16 km. Where weather is located and mountains.
|
|
|
Stratosphere
|
The second layer of the atmosphere up to 50km. Contains jets, meteors, and weather balloons.
|
|
|
Mesosphere
|
The middle (3rd) layer of the atmosphere up to 80km. Contains ozone which filters harmful UV rays from the sun, and some meteors.
|
|
|
Ionosphere
|
The lower part of the thermosphere, contains electron particles, the aurora borealis and reflects radio waves. Could be considered the 4th layer of the atmosphere.
|
|
|
Thermosphere
|
Could be considered the fifth layer of the atmosphere, if Ionosphere is listed separately.
The fourth layer of the atmosphere which extends to 400 km. Can be very hot (2000 degrees). Where spacecraft orbit. |
|
|
Exosphere
|
The last (5th layer) of the atmosphere, whose outer limits are unknown. This extends into space.
|
|
|
A front
|
Where a warm and cold air mass meet.
|
|
|
Warm front
|
When the warm moist, light air is lifted above a cold mass of air. May contain various stratus clouds. Usually means several days of steady precipitation (rain or snow) that covers a wide area.
|
|
|
Cold front
|
When cold air pushes into warm air and lifts it rapidly. Associated with cumulonimbus clouds (thunderheads) and violent thunderstorms.
|
|
|
meteorologist
|
weather scientist
|
