The Water Cycle In Action
What process changes liquid water into water vapor?
Evaporation
Which extreme weather forms when rotating air drops from a thunderstorm to the ground?
Tornado
Which type of front brings quick, heavy thunderstorms?
Cold front
What type of cloud is tall and produces thunderstorms?
Cumulonimbus
What is the main source of energy that powers all weather?
The Sun
What process forms clouds when water vapor cools?
Condensation
Which extreme weather often forms along cold fronts strongest in the central U.S.?
Tornadoes
Which front usually brings steady, gentle rain or snow?
Warm front
What fast-moving bands of air high in the atmosphere help guide storms?
Jet streams
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short-term; climate is long-term averages
Which stage of the water cycle is rainfall?
Precipitation
What kind of storm is powered by warm ocean water and has an “eye”?
Hurricane
What do we call the boundary where two air masses meet?
A front
Puffy cumulus clouds usually signal what kind of weather?
Fair weather
What is the measure of how much water vapor is in the air compared to how much it can hold?
Relative humidity
What kind of energy is released when water vapor condenses, helping storms grow stronger?
Heat
What conditions must be present for a snowstorm to be classified as a blizzard?
Strong winds (35 mph), reduced visibility, and heavy snow for several hours
What type of front can stall over an area, causing days of rain or snow?
Stationary front
Thin, wispy cirrus clouds often mean what type of front is approaching?
A warm front
What dangerous event can occur along coastlines when a hurricane pushes water onshore?
Storm surge
What part of the water cycle is most directly responsible for hurricanes gaining strength?
Evaporation from warm ocean water
What type of cloud is most often associated with severe thunderstorms?
Cumulonimbus
When a cold front overtakes a warm front, what kind of front is formed?
Occluded front
What type of weather would you expect if you see thin wispy clouds?
A warm front so spread out rainfall
What is the name of the effect that curves winds and ocean currents?
The Coriolis effect