The Water Cycle
Air Masses & Fronts
Ocean Currents & Climate
Energy & Atmosphere
Weather Basics
100

What is the full name of the cycle where water moves through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation?

What is the water cycle?

100

What is a large body of air with similar temperature and moisture?

What is an air mass?

100

What is the name of the warm ocean current that flows along the East Coast of the United States?

What is the Gulf Stream?

100

What is the source of energy that drives Earth's weather and climate?

What is solar radiation (the Sun)?

100

What term describes water that falls to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?

What is precipitation?

200

What is the process of water turning into vapor due to heat from the Sun?

What is evaporation?

200

Which type of front brings heavy rain and thunderstorms when cold air pushes warm air upward?

What is a cold front?

200

What drives the movement of thermohaline circulation?

What are differences in temperature and salinity?

200

What process traps heat in Earth's atmosphere and keeps the planet warm?

What is the greenhouse effect?

200

What tool is used to measure air pressure?

What is a barometer?

300

What happens when water vapor cools and forms liquid droplets?

What is condensation?

300

What weather conditions are typically associated with a high-pressure system?

What are clear skies and calm weather?

300

What is the climate pattern that occurs when ocean temperatures in the Pacific become unusually warm?

What is El NiƱo?

300

What is albedo a measure of?

What is how much sunlight a surface reflects?

300

What is the movement of air from high-pressure to low-pressure areas called?

What is wind?

400

How does the Sun drive the water cycle?

What is by providing energy for evaporation?

400

What is the name of a front where a cold front overtakes a warm front?

What is an occluded front?

400

How do ocean currents influence climate in coastal areas?

What is by transporting warm or cool water, which changes the temperature of the air?

400

What is the effect that causes winds and ocean currents to curve due to Earth's rotation?

What is the Coriolis Effect?

400

What is the temperature at which air becomes saturated, and condensation forms?

What is the dew point?

500

How does convection play a role in the water cycle?

What is it moves warm, moist air upward where it cools and condenses to form clouds?

500

What happens at a stationary front?

What is a boundary where air masses do not move significantly, causing long periods of rain or clouds?

500

What would happen if the Gulf Stream slowed or stopped completely?

What is colder temperatures in Northern Europe and disrupted global weather patterns?

500

What ensures that the amount of energy (heat) entering and leaving Earth's atmosphere stays equal over time?

What is the balance between energy coming into Earth (solar radiation) and energy leaving Earth (reflected or emitted radiation)?

500

What instrument measures the percentage of water vapor in the air?

What is a hygrometer?