Unit 1: Weather TEST 1

Weather

The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place.

Weather Lore

the folklore related to the prediction of the weather

Atmosphere

The air that extends above the earths surface

Lithosphere

All of earths land masses

Hydrosphere

All of the water on or near Earth's surface

Biosphere

All areas that are inhabited by and support life

Earths Energy Budget

maintains an energy balance and a temperature balance by radiating as much energy into space as it absorbs from the sun

Albedo

How much energy a surface reflects

Specific Heat Capacity

How quickly an object absorbs and releases heat

Heat Sink

A substance that can absorb and retain energy without changing state

Radiation

The transfer of energy by the means of waves. Does not require a medium and how the suns energy reachs earth

Conduction

The transfer of energy through the collision of particles. causes particles to vibrate faster collide more... Object heats up

Convection

The vertical transfer of energy in a fluid. Particles gain energy, spread out, as density lowers, it rises, it then cools, density increases, falls a current is made

Advection

The horizontal transfer of energy in a fluid

Condensation

The change from gas into liquid

Evaporation

The change of a substance in a liquid changing to a gas

Melting

The change from a solid to a liquid

Solidification

The change from a liquid or a gas to a solid

Sublimation

The change directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid phase

Latent Heat of Fusion

The heat required to change substance from a solid to a liquid or vice versa

Vaporization

The heat required to change a substance from a liquid to a gas or vice versa

atmospheric pressure

The pressure exerted by air on its surroundings due to the weight of the air

High pressure system

A region where air is descending and exerting more pressure on the region below

Low pressure system

A region where rising air is leaving less dense air below

air mass

very large mass of air with nearly uniform properties of temperature humidity and pressure

prevailing winds

The usual direction from which a wind blow

maritime polar air mass

Cold and humid

Continental polar air mass

Cold and Dry

Maritime tropical air mass

Warm and Humid

Continental tropical air mass

Warm and Dry

Wind

The horizontal movement of air

Coriolis effect

A change in the direction of moving air water or any object on earth due to the earths rotation

mid latitude westerlies

occur between 30° and 60° latitude and travel from west to east and towards the poles.

North east trade winds

blows from easterly direction, located north of the equator

South East Tradewinds

blows from easterly direction, located south of the equator

Jetstream

A narrow band of fast moving air

equatorial convection current

convection currents that originates at the equator or a result of the warming of air

mid latitude convection currents

convection currents that originate at 30° and 60°

water cycle

shows the flow of water and energy on, in, and around the earth

Front

A zone that develops as a result of the meeting of two Air masses with different characteristics

Cold front

when cold, dense air displaces warm air, it forces the warm air, which is less dense up along a steep slope

warm front

advancing warm air displaces cold air along a warm front, which develops a gradual boundary slope

occluded front

Sometimes a cold air mass moves so fast that it overtakes a warm front forcing the warm air up. As the warm air is lifted, the advance and cold air mass collided with the cold air mass in front of the warm front. (occluded means obstructed)

stationary front

when 2 air masses meet but neither advances, the boundary between them stalls. The resulting stationary front often occurs between two modified air masses with small temperature and pressure differences. The air masses can continue moving parallel to the front.

Temperature

qualitatively; the cool Ness or warmth of something.

quantitatively; the average kinetic energy of the particles of a substance

Precipitation

any liquid or solid form of water that falls to earth from the atmosphere including snow, rain and hail

Humidity

The amount of water vapour in the air

Sky cover

The portion of the sky that is covered by clouds

Wind speed and direction

how quickly the air is moving and what direction it is coming from

Gulf stream

Brings warm, moist air to the coast of the NL.

Labrador Current

An ocean surface current that brings cold water from the Arctic south along the coast of the province.

Global warming

A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere.

greenhouse effect

when the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap/absorb heat from the sun which heats up the atmosphere

Greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.