Weather Tools
What does a wind sock do?
tells us wind direction
Fluffy white clouds with flat bottoms that look like round piles of cotton
Cumulus
True or False: The weather is very predictable.
FALSE
Which climate zone has warm winters and hot summers?
Mild
Without the gases in our atmosphere trapping heat, the Earth would be very ________?
Cold
What does a rain gauge measure
amount of precipitation (rain, snow, etc.)
wispy, feathery clouds made from ice crystals that form at high levels
Cirrus
What is a meteorologist?
A scientist who studies the weather
How much rain does an area receive in order to be considered a desert? (amount/time period)
10 inches or less per year
Earth has gone through 7 ice ages and warming periods in its history. How is this warming period that we are currently in, different than those in the past?
It is warming at a much faster rate than ever before.
What does an anemometer measure?
wind speed
TALL, fluffy, white clouds with dark bottoms
Cumulonimbus
What is it called when a meteorologist shares their prediction of the weather for the day or week?
Forecast
Which climate zone experiences all of the seasons? Hot summers, cold winters, and mild spring/fall?
Temperate
Who is the main reason for Earth's rising temperatures?
Humans
What does a hygrometer measure?
humidity (water vapor in the air)
DARK, flat, spread out clouds that produce light to heavy rain
Nimbostratus
(bonus- how long do these storms last?)
Fill in the blank: When stratus clouds are overhead, meteorologists will say we have an ________ sky.
Overcast
Why is the climate so much hotter in the tropical zone than in the polar zones?
The tropical zone gets direct sunlight all year long. The polar zone gets indirect sunlight all year long.
Where is all of this extra carbon dioxide coming from?
Burning fossil fuels
(bonus- what are the 3 fossil fuels?)
What does a barometer measure?
atmospheric pressure (air pressure)
Clouds formed as jets fly through the air - long streaks of condensation
Contrails
If the air feels humid and I see cumulonimbus clouds coming my way, what kind of storms can I expect?
Intense thunderstorms that last an hour or less
Climate zones are based on the average long-term weather patterns in an area. What are the 4 main factors that affect an area's climate?
temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind
What can climatologists study to learn about climates from thousands of years ago?
Ice cores from glaciers