weather and climate

Front

What is El Niño?

Back

El Niño is an ocean current in the Pacific Ocean that is warmer than normal and recurs every few years, affecting weather patterns.

Front

What effect does warmer water have on weather along the Pacific Coast of the United States?

Back

Warmer water leads to more evaporation into the atmosphere, resulting in increased rainfall.

Front

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Back

Weather refers to the conditions in one day, while climate refers to the average conditions over a long period.

Front

What causes convection currents in the atmosphere?

Back

Warm air rising at the equator and cold air sinking at the poles creates convection currents.

Front

What is climate?

Back

Climate is the average weather conditions of a region year after year.

Front

What processes lead to cloud formation at the beach on a hot day?

Back

Evaporation and condensation are the processes that lead to cloud formation.

Front

What is the Coriolis Effect?

Back

The Coriolis Effect is the deflection of moving objects, like air currents, due to the Earth's rotation.

Front

What is precipitation?

Back

Precipitation is any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Front

What is evaporation?

Back

Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas, usually due to heat.

Front

What is condensation?

Back

Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air cools and changes back into liquid water.