Layers of the Atmosphere
This is the layer of the atmosphere where all weather happens.
What is the troposphere?
This process happens when the Sun heats up water and it changes into vapor.
What is evaporation?
This type of front brings light rain or drizzle and cloudy skies for several days.
What is a warm front?
This tool measures air temperature.
What is a thermometer?
Winds generally move from this direction to this direction in the United States.
What is from West to East?
Airplanes often fly in this layer to avoid weather.
What is the stratosphere?
Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are all forms of this part of the water cycle.
What is precipitation?
This front can bring thunderstorms, heavy rain, and a quick drop in temperature.
What is a cold front?
This tool measures air pressure.
What is a barometer?
This creates convection cells in the atmosphere.
What is unequal heating?
Temperatures are extremely high in this outermost layer, but you wouldn’t feel warm because air molecules are so far apart.
What is the thermosphere?
When water vapor cools and changes back into liquid droplets, this process occurs.
What is condensation?
When two air masses meet but neither moves, it creates this kind of front.
What is a stationary front?
This tool measures wind speed.
What is an anemometer?
These winds are found between 30° and 60° latitude and move from west to east.
What are the Westerlies?
This layer blends into outer space and has very few air molecules.
What is the exosphere?
Water that flows over the land’s surface back into rivers and oceans is called what?
What is runoff?
This front occurs when a warm air mass is trapped between two cold air masses.
What is an occluded front?
This tool measures humidity, or how much water vapor is in the air.
What is a hygrometer?
The bending of global winds because of Earth’s rotation is known as what effect?
What is the Coriolis effect?
This layer helps protect us against meteoroids.
What is the mesosphere?
What are the two main forces that drive the water cycle?
What is the sun and gravity?
What usually happens to the temperature after a cold front passes?
It drops (becomes colder)
Satellites and radar both help meteorologists track what type of weather event?
Storms (such as hurricanes or tornadoes)
Fast-moving, narrow bands of wind found high in the atmosphere are called what?
What are jet streams?