Weather Basics
Where does all weather happen?
All weather happens in the atmosphere.
Name the tool that measures the amount of rain that falls.
Rain gauge
What is a cloud?
A cloud is a collection of very tiny water droplets or ice crystals.
Describe the difference between sleet and hail.
Sleet starts as water that freezes into tiny ice pellets. Sleet usually falls in the winter. Hail is made of ice pellets. Hail forms in thunderstorm clouds, usually in the summer. Hail is larger than sleet.
What is the name of severe weather that happens when there is a long period of very little precipiation?
Drought
What is a meteorologist?
A meteorologist is scientist who studies weather
Name the tool that measures temperature.
Thermometer
(thermo=heat and meter=measure)
What is a stratus cloud?
Answer must include some of the following:
Stratus clouds are wide, thin layers of clouds. They are low clouds that look like a blanket over the earth. Stratus clouds often cause gray skies.
Define wind and explain how it exists.
Wind is moving air. Changes in temperature cause air to move. Sun makes the earth's surface warm. This causes air closer to the ground to be warmer than air that is higher. Warmer air rises. Cooler air falls. As warmer air rises, cooler air moves toward the earth to replace it. This movement of air is called wind.
What is the name of severe weather that happens when water flows onto dry land?
Flood
What is one way the sun and the atmosphere affect our weather?
Answer must include one of the following:
(1) The sun heats the air and causes air to move.
(2) The atmosphere protects the earth like a blanket
(3) The atmosphere keeps the earth from being too hot or too cold
What is the name of the tool that shows the direction the wind is blowing?
Weathervane
What is fog?
Answer must include some of the following:
Fog is a cloud that forms close to the ground. Fog forms when warm air blows over cold air near the ground. The water vapor in the warm air cools close to the ground and condenses.
What is precipitation?
Precipitation is water that falls from the sky to the ground
What is the name of severe weather that occurs in warm weather with lightning, heavy rains, and strong winds?
Thunderstorm
What does a weather satellite do?
Answer must include one of the following:
(1) reports wind speeds
(2) measures temperatures
(3) takes pictures of the earth's surface
What is the name of the tool that measures wind speed?
Anemometer
What are cumulus clouds?
Answer must include some of the following:
Cumulus clouds are fluffy, cotton-like clouds. They usually meant that the weather is fair.
Evaporation is the part of the water cycle when water changes from a liquid to a gas. The gas that water forms is called water vapor. Heat is required for evaporation to occur.
What is the name of severe weather that is a funnel shaped cloud of swirling winds that reach the ground?
Tornado
What is weather?
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place
Mindy and Cindy want to fly kites today. Which tool will tell them if its a good day for kite flying?
Anemometer
What are cirrus clouds?
Cirrus clouds are high, thin, wispy clouds. They often mean that a change in the weather is coming. Some cirrus clouds look like scales on a fish. A cirrus cloud that appears this and curly looks like the tail of a horse.
What is condensation?
Condensation is the part of the water cycle when cooled water vapor (gas) changes back to a liquid. The condensed water vapor forms clouds.
What is the name of severe weather that brings snowstorms and wind?
Blizzard