Show:
Elements of Weather
Clouds
What Influences Weather
Climate
Summary
100
Weather
What is the condition of Earth's atmosphere at a certain time and place?
100
A collection of small water droplets or ice crystals that are suspended in air
What is a cloud?
100
A large volume of air in which temperature and moisture content are nearly the same throughout
What is an air mass?
100
The weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
What is climate?
100
The temperature at which more condensation than evaporation occurs
What is the dew point?
200
The amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of water vapor needed to reach saturation
What is relative humidity?
200
Orographic lifting occurs when an obstacle forces a mass of air upwards
When does orographic lifting occur?
200
When two air masses meet, density differences usually keep them from mixing. A boundary, called a front, forms between the air masses
What is a front?
200
The angular distance in degrees north and south of the equator
What is latitude?
200
About 25% of the sun's energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space by clouds
About how much percent of the sun's energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space by clouds?
300
An anemometer
What do scientists use to measure wind speed?
300
Water vapor that condenses very near Earth's surface
What is fog?
300
For a front to form, one air mass must run into another air mass. The kind of front that forms depends on how these air masses move relative to each other, and on their relative temperature and moisture content
What must happen for a front to form?
300
A region's topography can affect its wind patterns and the transfer of energy in that area
How does topography affect a region's climate?
300
The energy from the warm currents is transferred to colder water or to the atmosphere, changing local temperatures and humidity
How do warm currents affect local temperatures?
400
Air pollution or fog
What can poor visibility result into?
400
Advection fog forms when warm, moist air moves across cold water and is cooled to its dew point
How does advection fog form?
400
A high-pressure system generally brings clear skies and calm air or gentle breezes
What does a high-pressure system do to the weather?
400
Water absorbs and releases energy as heat more slowly than land does, so, bodies of water can help moderate the temperature of nearby land
How do large bodies of water affect the climate?
400
The three major climate zones are tropical, temperate, and polar
What are the three major climate zones?
500
Sleet forms when rain falls through a layer of freezing air, creating falling ice
When does sleet form?
500
Steam fog appears as steam directly above bodies of water
What does steam fog appear as?
500
Air moves in jet streams with speeds that are at least 92 kilometers per hour and are often greater than 180 kilometers per hour, and they flow in a wavy pattern from west to east
How do jet streams flow?
500
Ocean currents move water and distribute energy and nutrients around the globe
What do ocean currents do?
500
Climates that are characterized by high temperatures and are located in the equatorial region
What are tropical climates?