Science - Chapter 9

the amount of water vapor in a given volume of air

the temperature at which condensation begins

wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels

fluffy, white clouds, usually with flat bottoms, that look like a rounded pile of cotton

clouds that form in flay layers and often cover much of the sky

a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at any given height

the boundary where unlike air masses meet but do not mix

bands of high-speed winds about 10 kilometers above the earth’s surface

a tropical storm that has winds of about 119 kilometers per hour or higher

scientists who study the causes of weather and try to predict it

a line on a weather map that joins places that have the same air pressure

a line on a weather map that joins places that have the same temperature

what must be present for water

wispy feathery clouds

clouds made of ice crystals and indicate fair weather

clouds that form in flat layers

clouds that’s name is from the Latin word strato = spread out

clouds that usually cover the sky (cloudy)

As these clouds thicken they may produce drizzle, rain, or snow

clouds that look like cotton

these clouds when they’re short usually indicate fair weather

towering clouds with flat tops that often produce thunderstorms

contain the prefix alto = high

are “medium-level” clouds

these clouds indicate precipitation

these clouds indicate a storm is on its way

the types of precipitation

sometimes falls as liquid water but freezes when they touch a cold surface

reaches earth as water

reaches the earth as frozen water

sometimes snow that is melted or rain that refreezes as it falls

reaches earth as ice pellets

overland

overwater

close to the equator

near the poles

near colder region

cold air moves under warm air

warm air moves over cold

warm front caught between 2 cold fronts

when cold and warm fronts meet

a low-pressure area over warm water, or tropical disturbance

warm, humid air rises and begins to spiral

as the air rises warmer, moist air is drawn into the system, and the hurricane gains energy

bands of high winds and heavy rains form as winds spiral inwards

when the boundary between fronts meets and becomes distorted; can cause the air to swirl, creating a low