Spheres
A layer of gas surrounding a planet that is held in place by gravity.
Atmosphere
Gas state turns into liquid state.
Condensation
A body of air extending over a large area (over 1000 miles or 1609.34km) that develops and maintains certain characteristics of pressure, temperature, and humidity.
Air Masses
Total kinetic energy of particles that make up matter; the faster the particles move, the warmer the matter becomes.
Thermal Energy
The day to day state of the atmosphere.
Weather
The force that causes objects with mass to be attracted to each other.
Gravity
Liquid state turns into gaseous state.
Evaporation
The border between an advancing cold air mass moving under a retreating warm air mass; represented by blue triangles; causing storms.
Cold Front
Saltiness or dissolved salt content in a body of water.
Salinity
Scientist who studies weather.
Meteorologist
The apparent direction of moving air as seen by an observer on Earth, as a result of Earth’s rotation.
Coriolis Effect
When water soaks into the ground and moves downward through spaces in the soil and rocks.
Percolation
When two air fronts do not move; precipitation and winds can occur.
Stationary Front
How far north or south of the equator.
Latitude
Measures temperature in Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin.
Thermometer
A circular movement of fluids caused by the rising of hotter less dense fluids and the falling of cooler denser fluid.
Convection Currents
Rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls from clouds in the sky.
Precipitation
The boundary between an advancing warm air mass and a receding cold air mass; represented by red scallops; causing wispy cirrus clouds, then layer stratus, which may precipitate.
Warm Front
Huge storm that occur from warm ocean waters evaporate over warm water areas, gathering massive amounts of energy until devastating landfall.
Hurricane
Average weather patterns for a particular region.
Climate
The amount of matter in a given space or volume.
Density
The process by which plants lose water (vapor) through the stoma in their leaves.
Transpiration
Form over water and are moister than continental air masses at the same latitude; denoted with an 'm'
Maritime Air Mass
Strong Atlantic current that brings warm, moist waters from the Gulf of Mexico into the coasts of Florida and Europe.
Gulf Stream
The likelihood or chance of something happening.
Probability
Energy from the sun that reaches Earth as visible light, ultraviolet radiation and infrared (heat) radiation.
Radiant Energy
Fluid can move through.
Permeable
The distance from sea level.
Altitude
Water releases heat and rises as cooler land air rushes away from the beach. Happens at night.
Land Breeze
Tool that measures air pressure.
Barometer