Water Cycle
Any series of events that repeat in the same order over and over again.
cycle
Characteristics of an air mass.
Temperature, humidity, air pressure.
One who studies and predicts weather.
meteorologist
a violent disturbance in the troposphere.
storm
atmospheric conditions in the troposphere during the day
weather
Water changing from vapor to liquid form.
condensation
Band of high-speed winds blowing from west to east.
Jetstream
Global wind responsible for the weather in the Unites States.
Prevailing Westerlies
A thunderstorm localized to a small region at higher latitudes.
blizzard
Temperature zone between polar and tropical.
temperate
evaporation
Type of air mass that is generally warm and moist.
Maritime, tropical
Ocean current responsible for the warmer weather along the east coast of Florida.
The Gulf Stream
Leading edge of most hurricanes causing flood damage; a dome of water.
storm surge
Type of ocean current usually headed towards the equator; cools coastal communities.
Polar current; Canary Current, Benguela Current, Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
rain, sleet, snow, and/or hail.
precipitation
Type of front where air temperature drops; warm air can't reach the ground; clouds gather and rain or snow will fall.
occluded front
On the map, a curved, blue line with triangles attached to it.
Cold front symbol
This occurs when cold, dense air pushes under warmer air forcing it to rise rapidly. Begins to rotate and form a funnel.
tornado
Mountain ranges forcing moist, humid air masses up; clouds and rain on that side, non on the other side.
rain shadow
Forces that help move water molecules through the water cycle.
Sun's energy, wind, gravity, temperature.
Warm air rises in the center, pressure decreases; cooler air blows inward; in the northern hemisphere it goes counterclockwise.
cyclone
Begins off the coast of Africa, grows to be very powerful due to warm ocean water and usually heads west because of the trade winds.
hurricane
storm warning; not a storm watch.
Phenomenon associated with humans releasing billions of tons of carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere responsible for climate changes.
Greenhouse Effect