Vocabulary

The ocean and atmosphere currents are closely linked. Image courtesy of JMVerco/Flickr. 

Air Mass: large body of air that has the same properties as the surface over which it develops

Albedo: fraction of solar radiation that is reflected back to space

Anemometer: instrument used to measure wind speed

Barometer: instrument used to measure air pressure

Climate: average weather of an area over a period of 30+ years

Climatologist: scientist that studies climate

Dew Point: temperature to which air must be cooled to be saturated

Front: boundary between 2 air masses 

Humidity: the amount of water vapor held in the air

Hurricanes: tropical, cyclonic storms that produce winds that travel at 120-240 mph

Hygrometer: instrument used to measure humidity

Precipitation: water falling from clouds

Relative Humidity: percentage of moisture in the air

Revolution: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one trip around the sun; 365 days

Rotation: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one spin on its axis; 24 hours

Saturated: when air contains as much moisture as it can possibly hold; relative humidity is 100% 

Supercells: most powerful thunderstorms; required for tornado formation

Tropic of Cancer: located at 23.5 ºN latitude

Tropic of Capricorn: located at 23.5 ºS latitude

Vortices: spinning columns of air

Weather: describes present state of the atmosphere and current conditions.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 14 October 2014, 10:09 PM