Weather vs climate
If a reporter says "There is a 20% chance of rain tomorrow," are they talking about weather or climate?
Weather
What is an air mass?
A large body of air with the same temperature and moisture.
What are clouds mostly made of?
Tiny water droplets (or ice crystals) that floats in the sky
What is a front?
A boundary where two different air masses meet.
What is a tornado?
A spinning column of air that stretches from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground
What word describes the science of studying the atmosphere and predicting weather?
Meteorology
What does "mT" stand for and what are its characteristics?
mT = Maritime Tropical: warm and moist (forms over warm oceans).
What type of cloud looks like white cotton balls and usually means good weather?
Cumulus
Which front moves quickly and can cause storms and a sudden drop in temperature?
Cold front
What slogan should you remember for flash flood safety?
"Turn Around, Don't Drown!"
Give the definition of climate in one sentence (include the typical time span scientists use).
Climate = long-term pattern of weather in a region, usually averaged over 30 years or more
Which air mass code means "very cold and dry"?
cA (Continental Arctic)
Which cloud type is dark, tall, and produces heavy rain or thunderstorms?
Nimbus
Which front brings steady rain as warm air slides over cold air?
Warm front
What is the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING? (one sentence)
WATCH means conditions are right for dangerous weather;
WARNING means dangerous weather is happening or imminent — take action now.
Give an example that shows the difference between weather and climate for the same place.
Any suitable example:
like- Today it's sunny (weather), but the region has cold snowy winters over 30 years (climate).
Name the air mass that is "hot and dry" and which is usually forms on land
What are the four main steps of cloud formation? (list them in order)
Evaporation → Condensation → Gathering (droplets form clouds) → Precipitation
What is a stationary front?
Two air masses meet but neither moves
Name two things that help create the "recipe for storms."
Different temperatures in air masses; unstable air; different wind patterns; convection (warm air rises, cold sinks).(any two)
A city has been measured for 30 years and shows mild winters and rainy summers. Is that an example of weather or climate? Explain why
Climate- because it is based on many years (about 30 years) of data.
Combine surface and temperature to name an air mass that is "humid and cold" and give its two-letter code.
During the cloud formation process, what specifically happens during the 'Condensation' step?
Water vapor cools down and turns back into liquid droplets
Which type of front is formed when a warm air mass is squeezed upward between two cooler air masses?
Occuluded Front
Explain why warm air rises above cold air using density in one or two sentences.
Warm air is less dense than cold air, so warm air rises above cold air.