Evaporation
the change from a liquid to a gas
Condensation
the change from a gas into a liquid
Precipitation
the falling to Earth of any form of water (rain, snow, hail or sleet)
Atmosphere
the mixture of gasses surrounding the Earth
water cycle
The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.
run-off
water that cannot soak into the ground and instead flows across Earth's surface.
weather
what the atmosphere is like at a given time and location
anemometer
a tool used for measuring wind speed
barometer
a tool used for mesuring air pressure
humidity
the amount of water vapor in the air
wind (weather) vane
a tool used to determine wind direction
weather balloon
a tool used to gather weather information high in the atmosphere
hygrometer
a tool used to measure humidity
thermometer
a tool used to measure temperature
air pressure
the weight of the atmosphere on Earth's surface
wind
moving air
air mass
a large body of air with the same temperature and moisture properties throughout
front
the boundary between two air masses
weather map
a map that uses symbols to show weather data
climate
the long-term weather patterns of a region
climate zone
an area that has similar average temperatures and precipitation throughout
equator
the imaginary line that divides Earth into its northern and southern hemispheres
cold front
forms when cold air moves under warm air which is less dense and pushes air up (produces violent weather at the frontal boundary but once front passes, crisp dry air follows)
warm front
formed when a warm air mass overtakes and rises over a cold air mass (gentle precipitation usually found at frontal boundary)
cumulus clouds
fluffy, white clouds, usually with flat bottoms, that look like rounded piles of cotton. Found in the middle layers of the atmosphere (2000m - 6000m)
stratus clouds
form in layers. Fog is a type of this cloud that develops near Earth's surface (0m - 2000m)
cirrus clouds
wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels (6000m and up)
Transpiration
Evaporation that takes place on the surface of any plant on the surface of the Earth.