Vocabulary
precipitation
any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface
The movement of water through Earth's systems
Name 3 types of precipitation
rain, sleet, freezing rain, hail, snow
What are the two ways air masses are classified?
what they are over and their temperature
What are the 4 major air masses?
maritime tropical, maritime polar, continental tropical, continental polar
huge body of air in the lower atmosphere that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure
What are the stages of the water cycle?
precipitation, evaporation, condensation
What is the difference between rain and drizzle?
The droplet size
Describe a maritime tropical air mass
over water and warm
Define the butterfly effect
It is difficult to predict the weather because a slight change in the weather can cause an even larger change in the future
front
the boundary where air masses meet
When liquid water becomes vapor
What is the difference between freezing rain and sleet?
Freezing rain falls as a liquid. Sleet is ice.
What is an occluded front?
formed when warm air is caught between two cooler masses, may cause precipitation
How do meteorologists predict the weather?
observations, technology, maps, charts, computers
cumulus
a cotton like cloud
How are clouds classified?
By their shape, altitude, and associated weather types
What is one way people try to control flooding?
dams or levees
Name the 4 types of air masses
cold front, warm front, stationary front, occluded front
What would a low pressure system on a weather map indicate?
rainy, cloudy
isotherm
lines on a weather map that join areas with the same temperature
Name 3 different types of clouds
cirrus, altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus, cirrocumulus, stratus, fog
What is a storm?
a violent disturbance in the air involving sudden changes in air pressure
What clouds are associated with thunderstorms?
Cumulonimbus