Weather Flashcards
(26 cards)
Humidity
the amount of water vapor present in the air
Cumulus Cloud
low-level clouds that form due to rising air currents and are typically associated with fair weather
Stratus Cloud
low-lying, uniform, gray or white, flat clouds that often cover the entire sky like a blanket, and can produce light drizzle or snow
Cirrus Cloud
high-altitude, wispy, feathery clouds composed of ice crystals, often indicating fair weather or an approaching warm front
Cumulonimbus Cloud
dense, towering, vertical clouds associated with severe weather like heavy rain, hail, lightning, and sometimes tornadoes, formed by strong vertical updrafts of warm, moist air.
Condensation
the process where water vapor (a gas) transforms into liquid water, often forming clouds or precipitation
Evaporation
the process where a liquid, like water, transforms into a gas (water vapor) due to heat or energy
Precipitation
any form of water, whether liquid or frozen, that falls from clouds to the Earth’s surface, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail
Runoff
water, from rain, snow melt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface and into streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean, rather than infiltrating into the ground
Rain
liquid water falling from the atmosphere in the form of drops, resulting from the condensation of water vapor in clouds that become too heavy to remain suspended.
Sleet
a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow.
Snow
precipitation in the form of ice crystals that form in the atmosphere when water vapor freezes and falls to Earth
Hail
a type of precipitation consisting of solid ice, typically in the form of balls or irregular lumps, that forms within thunderstorm updrafts
Polar–Maritime Air mass
a large body of cool, moist air that forms over cold ocean waters in high latitudes, often bringing mild, damp weather, fog, and drizzle to coastal regions
Tropical–Maritime Air mass
a warm, moist air mass that forms over tropical or subtropical ocean waters, characterized by high humidity and potential for precipitation.
Polar–Continental Air mass
a cold, dry air mass that forms over land in high latitudes, like northern Canada and Alaska, and is characterized by stable conditions and little cloudiness
Tropical–Continental Air mass
a large, hot, and dry air mass that originates over land in low-latitude desert regions, typically bringing clear skies and negligible rainfall
Cold Front
a weather front where a cold air mass displaces a warmer air mass, causing a sharp drop in temperature and often leading to thunderstorms and other severe weather
Warm Front
a weather front where a warm air mass advances and displaces a cooler air mass, resulting in the warmer air rising over the cooler air
Thunderstorm
a weather phenomenon characterized by lightning and thunder, often accompanied by heavy rain, strong winds, and sometimes hail, resulting from the rapid rise of warm, moist air and its subsequent cooling and condensation
Lightning
a weather phenomenon characterized by lightning and thunder, often accompanied by heavy rain, strong winds, and sometimes hail, resulting from the rapid rise of warm, moist air and its subsequent cooling and condensation
Thunder
the loud sound caused by the rapid heating and expansion of air along the path of a lightning strike, creating a shock wave that we hear as a booming or rumbling sound
Tornado
a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, characterized by high wind speeds and the potential for significant damage
Hurricane
a powerful, rotating, low-pressure weather system with sustained winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) or higher, that forms over tropical or subtropical waters, characterized by thunderstorms and a well-defined center.
