Weather

Question 1

Describe rain

Answer 1

drops of water .5mm

Question 2

Describe sleet

Answer 2

ice particles <.5mm

Question 3

Describe hail

Answer 3

ice pellets >.5 mm

Question 4

How do clouds form?

Answer 4

when water vapor in the air condenses on tiny particles in the air–forming a cloud

Question 5

What are trade winds?

Answer 5

winds that blow towards the equator between 0 & 30 degrees (north or south latitudes). Sailors relied on these winds to carry valuable cargo.

Question 6

What is hail?

Answer 6

a round pellet of ice larger than .5 mm in diameter, Forms only inside cumulonimbus clouds during thunderstorms.

Question 7

How are rain, sleet and hail similar and different?

Answer 7

They are all made of water. Their sizes are different, while one is water, the others are solid.

Question 8

Explain dew point

Answer 8

Since cooler air cannot hold as much water as warmer air, water begins to condense into drops of water or ice. The temperature at which this condensation happens is called the dew point.

Question 9

What are prevailing westerlies?

Answer 9

Winds that blow towards the Poles between 30 & 60 degrees (north & south latitudes). These winds play an important part in the US weather.

Question 10

What is a wind vane?

Answer 10

used to measure wind direction

Question 11

Order these from smallest to largest (hail, rain, sleet)

Answer 11

rain, sleet, hail

Question 12

What 2 factors are required for condensation to occur and form clouds?

Answer 12

1. cooling of air to dew point (or below) 2. presence of particles in the air.

Question 13

What are the polar easterlies?

Answer 13

these winds blow towards lower latitudes between 60 & 90 (north or south latitudes)

Question 14

Which heats up faster? Land or water

Answer 14

Land warms up faster than water.

Question 15

What is a psychrometer?

Answer 15

Measures relative humidity with an instrument with 2 thermometers, a wet bulb thermometer and a dry bulb thermometer.

Question 16

What is snow?

Answer 16

water vapor that is turned directly into ice crystals in clouds.

Question 17

A percentage of moisture in the air compared to the maximum the air can hold at a particular temperature.

Answer 17

Relative humidity

Question 18

Used for measuring wind speed.

Answer 18

anemometer

Question 19

What is sleet?

Answer 19

raindrops that fall through a layer of air that is below 0 degrees Celcius

Question 20

A measure of water vapor in the air

Answer 20

humidity

Question 21

True of false: wind is a horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Answer 21

true

Question 22

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface.

Answer 22

precipitation

Question 23

High speed winds found about 10 km above the surface.

Answer 23

jet streams

Question 24

Name 2 areas that have little or no wind around the Earth.

Answer 24

Doldrums and the Horse latitudes

Question 25

What are Horse latitudes?

Answer 25

region at 30 degrees North or South latitude where there is little or no wind.

Question 26

What are doldrums?

Answer 26

regions near the equator with little or no wind. The winds here are very weak.

Question 27

The Earth’s rotation makes winds curve. They curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer 27

Coriolis Effect

Question 28

Winds that blow steadily from specific directions over long distances

Answer 28

global winds

Question 29

Describe a land breeze

Answer 29

The cool night cools the air over the land, so the warm air over the water rises up and the cool land air moves in underneath it.

Question 30

Describe a sea breeze

Answer 30

The sun warms air over the land, the air rises while the cool air blows inland from over the water and moves in underneath the warm air.

Question 31

Caused by differences in air pressure. Moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Answer 31

wind

Question 32

Winds that blow over short distances, caused by unequal heating of the Earth’s surface within a small area.

Answer 32

local winds

Question 33

Describe warm/hot air

Answer 33

Warm air is less dense and rises. As the warm air rises, the pressure decreases.

Question 34

Describe colder air

Answer 34

Cold air is more dense and sinks. As the cold air sinks the pressure increases.

Question 35

What is wind chill?

Answer 35

the increased cooling a wind can cause. Wind blowing over your skin removes body heat.