Terms
Shield of ozone gas in the stratosphere that protects the earth's surface from the sun's ultraviolet radiation
Ozone layer
What instrument is used to monitor wind direction?
Weathervane
Large body of air having uniform temperature and humidity
Air mass
Movement of water from the earth's surface into the air and back to the earth's surface
Hydrologic Cycle (water cycle)
Location where a cold air mass takes the place of a warm air mass
Cold front
Condition of the atmosphere at a given time
Weather
Fourth layer of the atmosphere contains the hottest temperatures
Thermosphere
What is air moving into low pressure areas called?
Wind
Bands of winds that flow in predictable directions at certain latitudes
Global winds
Process by which liquid water becomes water vapor
Evaporation
Location where a warm air mass takes the place of a cold air mass
Warm front
Study of weather
Meteorology
Layer of gases held to a planet by its gravity
Atmosphere
What is the weight of air called?
Air pressure
A whirling funnel cloud that stretches from a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground
Tornado
Process by which water vapor changes back into liquid water
Condensation
Upward vertical movement of air
Updraft
Typical weather and area experiences year-round
Climate
Troposphere's topmost boundary
Tropopause
What natural process maintains a proper temperature balance in the earth's atmosphere by trapping heat?
Greenhouse effect
A storm that begins to rotate around a low-pressure area
Cyclone
Water falling to the earth's surface in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Precipitation
Downward vertical movement of air
Downdraft
A scientist who studies climate
Climatologist
First or lowest layer of the atmosphere; where most weather occurs
Troposphere
What two instruments can be used to measure precipitation?
Rain or snow gauge
The first stage of lightning in which a stream of electricity travels from a cumulonimbus cloud
Stepped leader
Frozen precipitation formed in cumulonimbus clouds
Hail
A tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles per hour or greater
Hurricane
Dry
Arid
Second layer of the atmosphere
Stratosphere
What type of cloud is high, feather-like, and made of ice crystals?
Cirrus cloud
Thermal (heat) energy from the sun being transferred to the earth's surface
Solar radiation
A vertical cloud that produces a thunderstorm; also known as a thunderhead
Cumulonimbus cloud
A destructive event caused by forces of nature
Natural disaster
Neither extremely hot nor extremely cold
Temperate
Third and middle layer of the atmosphere
Mesosphere
What is the term for a rain cloud?
Nimbus cloud
Band of high altitude wind that flows from west to east around the earth
Jet stream
Form of evaporation in which plants release water vapor
Transpiration
The band of storm clouds surrounding the eye of a hurricane
Eyewall
Notification that a tornado has been spotted
Tornado warning
Outermost layer of the atmosphere; contains the thinnest air
Exosphere
What type of low-level cloud forms a flat layer of heavy clouds not far above the ground?
Stratus cloud
Instrument used to measure wind speed
Anemometer
Measure of water vapor in the air
Relative humidity
A low-pressure area around which a tropical cyclone rotates
Eye (of a hurricane)
Notification that conditions are right for tornado formation
Tornado watch
Surrounds the earth to protect it from the sun's electrically charged particles
Earth's magnetic field
What type of cloud is billowy, low-level, and has a flat base?
Cumulus cloud
Boundary between two air masses
Front
Temperature at which cooling air becomes saturated
Dew point
The rise in ocean water surrounding a hurricane
Storm surge
Climate system with zones determined by precipitation and vegetation: tropical, dry, mild, continental, polar
Köppen Climate Classification System
Area of land or ocean where an air mass forms
Source region
What instrument is used to measure humidity
Hygrometer
Instrument used to measure air pressure
Barometer
Particles in air onto which water vapor condenses
Condensation nuclei
Used to rank hurricanes by their wind speed and potential for destruction
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
A tornado severity rating scale, rating tornadoes from EF0 to EF5
Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale of Tornado Damage Intensity