Weather Basics
What is weather?
Weather describes the condition of the air at a certain place and time.
What does air temperature measure?
How warm or cool the air is.
What shows the direction the wind is coming from?
A wind vane.
What is precipitation?
Water falling from the sky as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
What is a landslide?
When a large amount of rock and soil quickly moves downhill.
What are two types of weather conditions?
Sunny and rainy.
Which is colder, the North Pole or the equator?
The North Pole.
When a flag flies on a flagpole, what are you observing?
Wind direction.
How can you measure rainfall?
With a rain gauge.
What is one cause of earthquakes?
Plates bumping into, sliding under, or moving away from each other.
How does weather differ between two towns?
It can be windy in one town and calm in another.
What unit is temperature measured in?
Degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
What causes wind to blow?
Warm air rising and cooler air taking its place.
What causes clouds to form?
Water vapor rising and cooling.
Name one natural resource people use.
Water or soil
What is one tool we use to measure air temperature?
A thermometer.
Why is the air cooler at the tops of mountains?
Because it is higher up and further from the warm ground.
Can wind direction be the same all over the world on the same day?
No, it can vary.
What can push rain clouds around?
Winds
What is the process of decomposition?
The breaking down of dead plants and animals into smaller pieces.
What is the term for the process of breaking down landforms by natural forces?
Weathering.
What happens to warm air?
Warm air rises.
What does the arrow on a wind vane point to?
The direction from which the wind is coming.
What happens after it rains in terms of precipitation?
Some of the water in the clouds falls back to Earth’s surface.
What is an example of a fast change to Earth’s surface?
A volcanic eruption or an earthquake.