Weather and Climate Flashcards
Artificial Satellites
devices in Earth’s orbit which collect weather data and allow scientists to quickly monitor atmospheric conditions
Wind Sock
tool used to determine the direction of the wind
Specific Heat Capacity
The amount of heat needed to raise 1 mass unit of the material’s temperature by 1 degree.
Ensemble Forecast Models
a weather model that compares multiple models to determine accuracy; Weather models that agree are probably right.
Climate
a measure of an area’s long-term weather patterns
Occluded Fronts
When warm air gets caught between two cold air masses and is lifted off the Earth. On a weather map, purple lines with purple squares and half-circles indicate rain and cooler temperatures.
Barometer
instrument used to measure the pressure in the air; higher pressure means cooler weather and less rain;
Tropics
the area between the Tropic of Cancer, which is 23.5 degrees north, and the Tropic of Capricorn, which is 23.5 degrees south; temperature is warm; high rains
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Clouds with many layers and a high look mean storms and bad weather are coming.
Orographic Lift
When the wind is pushed up and over the top of a peak and then down the other side, this is called a wind shift.
Rain Gauge
tool used to collect rainfall and measure the amount of precipitation within a certain timeframe;
Polar
the area between latitudes 66.5 degrees north and south and the poles. It has cool summers and very cold winters, and it doesn’t get much rain.
Leeward Side
the side of the mountain that was faced away from the wind
Isobars
lines on a weather map that connect places with the same atmospheric pressure
Computer Forecast Models
a text or map-based weather model that predicts thunderstorms using data from balloons, satellites, ships, planes, and weather stations worldwide.
