Vocabulary
These scientists collect weather data from all over the world. The data they collect is then used in weather forecasts. What are these scientists called?
Meteorologists
This weather instrument shows the amount of precipitation.
Rain gauge
The Big Dipper is part of a constellation called what?
Ursa Major
Low, gray clouds; often produce drizzle (light rain).
Stratus clouds
A tropical storm has now developed into a typhoon over the Philippines and southern China. To keep an eye on this huge storm, which tracking tool is best?
A weather satellite
Region of space where the temperature range allows life to thrive.
Sailors are concerned that bad weather is moving from the coast to the sea. Which weather tracking instrument will give meteorologists that information?
A weather buoy
Who was Galileo?
Italian astronomer who first saw moons orbiting Jupiter.
White, puffy clouds; common in sunny, blue skies.
Cumulus clouds
What are three differences between inner and outer planets?
Inner Planets
•Smaller
•Warmer
•Have hard surfaces
•Revolve around the sun more quickly
•Only planets where probes from Earth have landed
•Rocky
•Few moons-or none
Outer Planets
•Giant balls of gases
•Larger
•Less dense
•Rotate quickly, which makes for a short day
•Take long time to revolve around the sun
•Have rings
A large round body that revolves around a star in a clear orbit is a(n) _______________.
planet
How does a modern barometer work?
In a modern barometer, air presses down on a vacuum chamber, a sort of airless can. As the air pressure changes, the vacuum chamber moves up or down. A lever attached to the chamber moves a pointer along a dial to measure the air pressure.
How long does it take for Earth to complete one full rotation?
One day
The city's weather forecaster warns viewers to cancel picnics and barbecues. A violent storm is on the way. Where did he most likely get his data from?
A Doppler radar tower
True or False:
Each planet rotates at a different rate.
True
Weather is the condition of the ___________ at a given place and time.
atmosphere
An anemometer would help you observe which two weather phenomenons (parts of weather)?
Wind speed and wind direction
True or False:
During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are more hours of daylight and it is warmer.
False:
Fewer hours of daylight and cooler
This type of from forms where a cold air mass bumps into a warmer air mass. The denser cold air pushes the warm air up. Water vapor in the air cools, and large clouds form. Thunderstorms and heavy rain often take place.
Cold front
Some constellations are visible from different places on Earth during part of the year. Why are these constellations not visible from every location on Earth all year-round?
Because of the Earth's revolution
The path that one object follows around another object in space is its ______________.
orbit
This weather instrument collects data at different heights in the atmosphere.
A radiosonde
Which characteristic do all the inner planets in our solar system have?
relatively large cores
When does a stationary front form?
A stationary front forms when a cold front or warm front stops moving. This happens when two masses of air are pushing against each other, but neither is powerful enough to move the other. Winds blowing parallel to the front instead of perpendicular can help it stay in place.
Why should the location for your weather station be sheltered from the sun?
The location should be sheltered to prevent the sun from directly heating the thermometer, so we can get accurate readings of air temperature.