Weather and Climate Unit 2 Vocabulary

Unit 2 Vocabulary

Weather and Climate

​Weather

Short-term changes to the atmosphere at a particular time and place

​Climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

​Air Pressure

The measure of the pressure with which air molecules push on a surface

​Humidity

The amount of water vapor or moisture in the air

​Water Cycle

The cycle of processes by which water moves between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land

​Transpiration

Evaporation or loss of water from the leaves of a plant

​Condensation

The change of state from a gas to a liquid

​Evaporation

The change of state from a liquid to a gas

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.

​Air Mass

A body of air that has about the same temperature and moisture throughout

​Rain Shadow

A dry area on the downwind side of a mountain.

​Ocean Currents

A movement of ocean water that follows a regular pattern

​Oceanic Circulation

The large, connected system of water movements in the oceans

Heat Reservoir

A system which is able to receive or lose any amount of heat without a change in temperature