Atmosphere and Weather Vocab

Balance between incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere, influencing the climate.

• Latent heat

• Diurnal range

• Net radiation balance

• Continental climate

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Difference between the highest and lowest temperatures in a 24-hour period.

• Seasonal lag

• Extreme range

• Sublimation

• Diurnal range

High-speed narrow air current moving in a westerly direction at a height of between 10 and 15 km, following the boundaries between hot and cold air.

• Arctic jet stream

• Sub-tropical jet stream

• Polar front jet stream

• Equatorial jet stream

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Area of low atmospheric pressure and ascending air found near or at the equator, where global winds converge and rise as a result of convection from thermal heating.

• Sub-tropical high pressure zone

• Polar high

• Equatorial low pressure belt

• Inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Places affected by the close proximity of an ocean, lowering temperatures during summer and keeping it warmer in winter.

• Air masses

• Maritime climate

• Lack of human diversity

• Coriolis effect

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Short-wave radiation energy from the Sun heating the ground and reradiated as infrared long-wave radiation.

• Terrestrial radiation

• Sensible heat transfer

• Insolation

• Albedo

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Area of low pressure found at or near the equator.

• Ocean conveyor belt

• Equatorial low pressure belt

• Sub-tropical high pressure belt

• Temperate low pressure belt

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Force exerted by the Earth's rotation causing moving objects to move to the right in the Northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern hemisphere, responsible for the direction of movement in various weather events.

• Thermohaline circulation

• Latent heat

• Pressure gradient force

• Coriolis force

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

International environmental treaty signed in 1992, aiming to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• Inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

• Net radiation balance

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

When air or water moves from one place to another, taking its temperature with it.

• Continental climate

• Specific heat capacity

• Condensation nuclei

• Sensible heat transfer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6