Weather & Climate
What is the term for the short-term conditions of the atmosphere?
Weather
How many main climate zones are covered in the class notes?
Five main climate zones.
What are clouds made of?
Water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.
What is a large body of air with similar temperature, moisture, and pressure throughout?
Air mass — a large body of air with similar temperature, moisture, and pressure characteristics.
What is the boundary between two air masses called?
A front — the boundary between two air masses.
What describes the weather patterns of an area over more than 30 years?
climate
Which climate zone is hot and humid year-round?
Tropical — hot and humid.
What process occurs when the Sun heats water and changes it into water vapor?
Evaporation — when the Sun's heat changes liquid water into water vapor.
What type of air mass forms over land and is generally dry?
Continental — air that forms over land and is generally dry.
On a weather map, what shape represents a warm front?
Semicircles — the symbols used to represent warm fronts.
Which imaginary lines measure locations north and south of the equator?
Latitude
Which climate zone receives very little precipitation?
Dry — receives very little precipitation.
What happens to warm, less-dense air during cloud formation?
Warm, less-dense air rises.
What type of air mass forms over oceans and is generally moist?
Maritime — air that forms over oceans and is generally moist.
What shape represents a cold front, and what do the shapes show?
Triangles — the symbols for cold fronts; they point in the direction the front is moving.
What happens to sunlight at the poles compared with the equator?
Sunlight is less direct at the poles
Which climate zone has very cold winters and can experience snowstorms and strong winds?
Continental — has very cold winters and may experience snowstorms and strong winds.
What process occurs when water vapor cools and turns back into liquid water droplets?
Condensation — when water vapor cools and turns back into liquid water droplets.
What is the combined classification of cold, dry air that forms over land in cold regions?
Continental Polar — cold, dry air that forms over land in cold regions.
What usually happens to the temperature after a cold front passes?
The temperature drops after a cold front passes.
Name two factors other than latitude that can affect a region's climate.
Elevation, wind patterns, and nearby mountains or large bodies of water.
Which climate zone stays extremely cold, with summer temperatures below 50°F according to the class notes?
Polar — extremely cold, with summer temperatures below 50°F according to the class notes.
Which cloud type grows vertically and is associated with thunderstorms?
Cumulonimbus — a cloud that grows vertically and is associated with thunderstorms.
What is the combined classification of warm, moist air that forms over warm oceans such as the Gulf of Mexico?
Maritime Tropical — warm, moist air that forms over warm oceans, such as the Gulf of Mexico.
What type of front forms when two air masses meet and neither can move the other?
Stationary front — forms when two air masses meet and neither is strong enough to move the other.