Weather
57 flashcards covering Weather for the ACT Science section.
Weather is the short-term condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, including factors like temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and air pressure. It's what you experience daily, such as a rainy afternoon or a sunny day, and it can change rapidly due to influences like ocean currents or atmospheric fronts. Understanding weather helps explain everyday phenomena and is a foundation for broader earth science concepts, which is why it's relevant on standardized tests.
On the ACT Science section, weather questions typically appear in data analysis, research summaries, or conflicting viewpoints passages, where you'll interpret graphs, charts, or experiments related to atmospheric conditions. Common traps include confusing weather patterns with long-term climate trends or overlooking key variables like altitude; focus on skills like identifying trends in data, evaluating evidence, and drawing conclusions from scientific descriptions. Always pay attention to how variables interact to avoid misinterpretation.
A concrete tip: Practice analyzing simple weather maps to quickly spot patterns and relationships.
Terms (57)
- 01
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including elements like temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation.
- 02
Climate
Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area, helping to distinguish it from short-term weather changes.
- 03
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding Earth, which plays a key role in weather by holding heat, moisture, and enabling air movement.
- 04
Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where most weather occurs due to the mixing of air, water vapor, and temperature changes.
- 05
Stratosphere
The stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere, containing the ozone layer and generally having stable conditions with little weather activity.
- 06
Temperature
Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of air molecules, influencing weather patterns like heating, cooling, and pressure systems.
- 07
Humidity
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, which affects weather comfort and can lead to condensation or precipitation when it reaches saturation.
- 08
Relative Humidity
Relative humidity is the ratio of the current amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum it can hold at that temperature, often expressed as a percentage.
- 09
Dew Point
The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and dew forms, indicating how close the air is to producing condensation.
- 10
Precipitation
Precipitation is any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground, such as rain, snow, or hail.
- 11
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation that occurs when water droplets in clouds combine and fall to the ground, often resulting from warm air rising and cooling.
- 12
Snow
Snow is frozen precipitation that forms when water vapor turns directly into ice crystals in cold clouds and falls as flakes.
- 13
Sleet
Sleet is precipitation that starts as snow, partially melts in a warm layer of air, and then refreezes into ice pellets before reaching the ground.
- 14
Hail
Hail is a form of precipitation consisting of rounded ice pellets that form in thunderstorm updrafts and grow by accumulating layers of frozen water.
- 15
Wind
Wind is the horizontal movement of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, driven by differences in atmospheric pressure.
- 16
Anemometer
An anemometer is an instrument used to measure wind speed, helping meteorologists track weather patterns and predict changes.
- 17
Barometer
A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, which indicates potential weather changes, such as rising pressure suggesting fair weather.
- 18
Thermometer
A thermometer measures air temperature, a key factor in determining weather conditions and forecasting events like heat waves.
- 19
Hygrometer
A hygrometer measures the humidity in the air, aiding in weather prediction by showing moisture levels that could lead to rain.
- 20
Cold Front
A cold front is the leading edge of a mass of cold air moving into an area of warmer air, often causing sudden weather changes like thunderstorms.
- 21
Warm Front
A warm front is the boundary where warm air replaces cooler air, typically bringing steady rain and gradual weather improvements.
- 22
Occluded Front
An occluded front occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air and often resulting in prolonged precipitation.
- 23
Stationary Front
A stationary front is a boundary between two air masses that is not moving, leading to persistent weather conditions like fog or drizzle.
- 24
Air Mass
An air mass is a large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity, influencing weather as it moves over different regions.
- 25
High-Pressure System
A high-pressure system is an area where atmospheric pressure is higher than surrounding areas, usually associated with clear, calm weather.
- 26
Low-Pressure System
A low-pressure system is an area of lower atmospheric pressure, often bringing stormy weather as air rises and cools.
- 27
Jet Stream
The jet stream is a fast-moving band of wind in the upper atmosphere that steers weather systems and influences storm paths.
- 28
Coriolis Effect
The Coriolis effect is the apparent deflection of winds and ocean currents due to Earth's rotation, causing them to curve and affect weather patterns.
- 29
Trade Winds
Trade winds are steady winds that blow from the east toward the equator, playing a role in global weather circulation and ocean currents.
- 30
Prevailing Westerlies
Prevailing westerlies are winds that blow from the west in mid-latitudes, transporting weather systems across continents.
- 31
Polar Easterlies
Polar easterlies are cold winds that blow from the east in polar regions, contributing to the movement of cold air masses toward lower latitudes.
- 32
Cumulus Cloud
A cumulus cloud is a puffy, white cloud that forms from rising warm air and can indicate fair weather or develop into thunderstorms.
- 33
Stratus Cloud
A stratus cloud is a low, gray layer that covers the sky like a blanket, often bringing overcast conditions and light precipitation.
- 34
Cirrus Cloud
A cirrus cloud is a high, thin, wispy cloud made of ice crystals, usually indicating fair weather but sometimes preceding a storm.
- 35
Nimbus Cloud
A nimbus cloud is a dark, rain-bearing cloud, such as nimbostratus or cumulonimbus, that produces significant precipitation.
- 36
Weather Map
A weather map is a graphical representation of atmospheric conditions, using symbols to show pressure, fronts, and precipitation for forecasting.
- 37
Isobar
An isobar is a line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure, helping to identify high- and low-pressure systems.
- 38
Isotherm
An isotherm is a line on a map connecting points of equal temperature, used to visualize temperature gradients and weather patterns.
- 39
Doppler Radar
Doppler radar is a tool that uses radio waves to detect precipitation and wind movement, providing real-time data for weather prediction.
- 40
Satellite Imagery
Satellite imagery provides overhead views of weather systems, showing cloud cover, storms, and atmospheric features to aid in forecasting.
- 41
Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is the process by which gases in the atmosphere trap heat, influencing weather by maintaining Earth's average temperature.
- 42
El Niño
El Niño is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that disrupts normal weather patterns, often causing droughts or heavy rains in various regions.
- 43
La Niña
La Niña is the cooling of the Pacific Ocean that occurs periodically, leading to altered weather patterns like increased hurricanes in some areas.
- 44
Hurricane
A hurricane is a large, rotating storm with strong winds and heavy rain, forming over warm ocean waters and classified by wind speed.
- 45
Tornado
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of causing severe destruction.
- 46
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning, thunder, and often heavy rain, formed by the rapid upward movement of warm air.
- 47
Frontogenesis
Frontogenesis is the process by which a front forms or intensifies, leading to weather changes as air masses interact.
- 48
Adiabatic Cooling
Adiabatic cooling is the process where air cools as it rises and expands, contributing to cloud formation and precipitation.
- 49
Lapse Rate
The lapse rate is the rate at which atmospheric temperature decreases with altitude, affecting weather stability and cloud development.
- 50
Specific Heat
Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance, influencing how air and water respond to heating in weather.
- 51
Evaporation
Evaporation is the process by which liquid water turns into vapor, adding moisture to the air and driving weather cycles.
- 52
Condensation
Condensation is the change of water vapor into liquid, forming clouds and dew, which is essential for precipitation in weather systems.
- 53
Sublimation
Sublimation is when ice turns directly into water vapor without becoming liquid, occurring in dry, cold weather conditions.
- 54
Deposition
Deposition is the process where water vapor turns directly into ice, such as frost forming on surfaces during cold weather.
- 55
Water Cycle
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on Earth through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, shaping weather patterns.
- 56
Insolation
Insolation is the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth, which varies by location and time, directly affecting weather and temperature.
- 57
Albedo
Albedo is the measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects, influencing weather by determining how much heat is absorbed by the ground.