Meteorology
What is meteorology?
The branch of science concerned with the processes and phenomena of the atmosphere.
What is Earth's atmosphere?
Earth's atmosphere is layers of gases surrounding the Earth.
What are the four steps to the water cycle?
The four steps to the water cycle are evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
What is a dark area where light from a source is blocked by an opaque object?
A shadow is a dark area where light from a source is blocked by an opaque object.
What weather instrument measures wind speed and direction?
A wind sock measures wind speed and direction.
What is weather?
The state of the atmosphere at a certain place and time.
What are three of the five layers of the atmosphere?
The five layers of our atmosphere are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.
What knowledge can we infer from shadows?
By studying shadows, we can infer knowledge such as time of day and impending weather.
What are the four spheres that make up Earth?
The four spheres that make up Earth are the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere (or the geosphere) and the biosphere.
What are three factors that dictate weather?
Factors of weather include: temperature, precipitation, barometric pressure, cloud cover, wind, and humidity.
What is atmospheric pressure?
Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted on a surface by the air above it as gravity pulls air to Earth.
Name four different types of precipitation.
Different types of precipitation include: Drizzle, Rain, Slush, Snow, Ice crystals, Sleet, Graupel, Hail, and Megacryometeors
The Sun's light causes Earth to heat up. What causes seasons to occur on Earth?
Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons.
273K, 0°C, and 32°F are all significant. Why?
273K, 0°C, and 32°F are the freezing point of water.
What are the four main subdivisions of Earth?
The four main subdivisions of Earth are the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere (or the geosphere), and the biosphere.
How does Earth rotation effect global winds?
Global winds curve as Earth rotates under them.
What types of clouds are associated with thunderstorms?
Nimbus clouds are associated with thunderstorms.
At what time of year does a shadow's terminus create a straight line over the course of a day?
During an equinox, a shadow's terminus creates a straight line over the course of a day.
What substance is most prevalent in the Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen is the most prevalent substance in Earth's atmosphere.
What is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state?
Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.
What is the name of the effect that causes global winds to travel in the way that they do?
The Coriolis Effect causes global winds to travel in the way that they do.
What type of precipitation occurs when snowflakes melt into a raindrop in a wedge of warm air well above the ground and then refreeze in a layer of freezing air just above the surface?
Sleet occurs when snowflakes melt into a raindrop in a wedge of warm air well above the ground and then refreeze in a layer of freezing air just above the surface.
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, will the North Pole be tilted toward or away from the Sun during autumn?
Neither. During spring and autumn, the North and South Poles are equidistant from the Sun.
What severe weather was named after the one-legged Mayan god?
Hurricanes were named after Hurakan, the one-legged Mayan god of the wind.