Weather and Climate Concepts

Convection

• heat transfer through liquids and gases from hot to cold

• a method of heat transfer through direct contact

• the transfer of heat through solid materials

• the process of heat transfer via electromagnetic waves

Coriolis Effect

• curved path of wind and water due to Earth's rotation

• a phenomenon that causes tides to rise and fall

• the process of air moving from high to low pressure

• the effect of gravity on ocean currents

Condensation

• when a gas cools and changes to a liquid

• when a liquid heats up and changes to a gas

• when a solid melts into a liquid

• when a gas expands and becomes a vapor

Air Pressure

• amount of force exerted by air on a surface

• the weight of air in the atmosphere

• the temperature of the air

• the speed of wind in a given area

Front

• boundary between two different air masses

• a type of weather phenomenon

• a measure of atmospheric pressure

• a layer of the atmosphere

Atmosphere

• of gases surrounding Earth

• the layer of water on Earth's surface

• the solid outer layer of Earth

• the region of space beyond Earth's atmosphere

Salinity

• amount of salt in a body of water

• the temperature of the water

• the clarity of the water

• the presence of aquatic life

Rain Shadow Effect

• area on the windward side of a mountain that receives heavy rain

• area on leeward side of a mountain that does not receive rain

• a phenomenon where rain falls equally on both sides of a mountain

• a dry area located far from any mountains

Air Mass

• body of air with uniform temperature and humidity

• a large area of land with similar vegetation

• a weather phenomenon causing storms

• a type of cloud formation

Global Winds

• large wind patterns across Earth that move in a predictable pattern

• random gusts of air that change direction frequently

• local breezes that occur near bodies of water

• winds that only occur during storms