Air a mixture of invisible molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other substance
Abrasion the process of which layers of soft rock are carried away by the wind leaving only the hard rock behind
Air pressure the weight of the atmosphere pushing down on the earth
Anemometer an instrument used to measure wind speed
Arctic a cold climate
Atmosphere the life giving and protective gasses that surround the earth
Atom the smallest unit of matter
Barometer an instrument that measures air pressure
Blizzard a severe winter storm that brings high winds, low temperatures, and blowing snow.
Celsius scale a temperature scale in which 0 degrees is the freezing point and 100 is the boiling point of water
Cirrus a cloud that forms in wispy strands high in the sky
Climate the typical weather that occurs over a particular region of Earth
Cloud a collection of water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere
Condensation the process of gas or vapor changing into a liquid
Crystal a solid made up of molecules that are neatly arranged in precise, repeating pattern
Cumulus a puffy white cloud formed by rising air heated by the sun
Current a smooth flowing movement of air that flows up and down
Cyclone a storm that spins around a low pressure area. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and typhoons are all types of cyclones
Drizzle very tiny drops of water that float to the ground
Drought a prolonged period with little or no rainfall
Equator The imaginary circle around the Earth that divides the top half (Northern Hemisphere) from the bottom half (Southern Hemisphere)
Eye the area of low pressure at the center of a hurricane, where the air is dry and calm
Evaporation the process of which liquid water changes into water vapor
Fahrenheit scale the temperature in which the freezing point of water is thirty-two degrees and the boiling point of water is two-hundred twelve degrees
Fog a collection of water droplets hanging close to the ground
Freezing rain precipitation that falls as rain and freezes when it hits the ground or other surfaces
Front an area in the atmosphere where cold and warm air systems meet
Global warming a gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth do to the green house effects
Greenhouse effect the filtering system in the atmosphere that prevents the Earth's warmth from escaping to space
Hail ice balls that are formed by rain that is thrown by air currents back up into a thundercloud, were a layer of ice forms around it. Hail can make several trips back up into a cloud, were it is covered with another level of ice each time.
Humidity the presence of water or water vapor in the air. When the weather is humid there is a high amount of water in the air
Hurricane the most severe type of tropical cyclone, with winds that spin around a low-pressure system
Jet stream a high speed, narrow band of upper level winds that flows from west to east around the globe
Lightning a current of electricity that flows between clouds or between a cloud and the Earth
Mist a very thin layer of fog containing few water droplets
Nimbus a rain cloud that is of uniform grayness and extends over the entire sky
Precipitation any kind of rain or snow
Rain gauge the instrument meteorologists use to measure the amount of rainfall
Sleet precipitation that falls as tiny balls of ice
Stratus horizontal layers of clouds that blanket the sky
Temperature a measure of how fast the molecules in an object are moving.
Thunder sound waves created by the sudden increase in temperature in the air surrounding lightning
Tornado a type of cyclone that is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground
Water spout a tornado that touches down on water instead of land
Water vapor water in gas form, created when liquid water evaporates.
Weather the condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place, including the temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and humidity.
Wind a smooth flowing movement of air that flows horizontally.
Wind Chill the colder temperature you feel when strong winds blow in cold temperatures.
