Weather/Climate and Water Cycle Vocabulary
Solar energy
radiant energy emitted by the sun.
Cloud cover
a mass of cloud covering all or most of the sky.
Wind speed
a basic atmospheric amount caused by air moving from high
to low pressure
Ocean
The entire body of saltwater that covers about 71% of Earth
Water Cycle
The constant movement of water through the land, air,
oceans, and living things
Weather Map
Chart that displays weather patterns
Rain gauge
A tool for collecting and measuring the amount of rain which
falls.
Anemometer
A tool for measuring the speed of the wind, or of any current
of gas.
Wind vane
A tool that measures the direction from which the wind is
blowing
Meteorologist
Scientist that studies weather and climate
Atmosphere
the envelope of gasses surrounding the earth
Condensation
Change in state of matter from a gas to a liquid
Climate
Average weather conditions for a region year after
year
Decades
a period of ten years.
Decrease
make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount,
intensity, or degree.
Evaporation
Change in state of matter from a liquid to a vapor
or gas
Heat
the transfer of kinetic energy from one medium or
object to another, or from an energy source to a
medium or object
Forecast
predict or estimate (a future event or trend).
Increase
make or become larger or greater in size, amount,
intensity, or degree.
Wind direction
The direction from which wind originates
Precipitation
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls from clouds in
the sky
Thermal Energy
the energy contained within a system that is
responsible for its temperature
Weather
The current outdoor conditions
Current conditions
the atmospheric conditions that make up the
atmosphere in terms of temperature, wind, clouds,
and precipitation.
Runoff
The movement of water on a surface to areas of
lower elevation
Celsius
Thermometer
scale based on 0° for the freezing point of water
and 100° for the boiling point of water.
Weather Patterns
occurs when the weather stays the same for days
or weeks at a time.
Precipitation
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls from clouds in
the sky
Temperature
How hot or cold something is
Accumulation
A buildup or gathering of something that occurs
over time
Fresh Water
Water found in rivers, lakes, glaciers, and ice
sheets and underground that contains low
concentrations of salt
Saltwater
Water found in oceans (and a few lakes) that
contains 3–4% salt
Data
Information that has been collected
Humidity
The amount of water vapor in the air
Weather/Climate and Water Cycle Vocabulary
Solar energy
__________ energy emitted by the __________ .
Cloud cover
a mass of __________ covering all or most of the sky.
Wind speed
a basic ____________________ amount caused by air
moving from high to low pressure
Ocean
The entire body of __________ that covers about _____% of
Earth
Water Cycle
The __________ movement of water through the
__________ , air, __________ , and living things
Weather Map
__________ that displays weather __________
Rain gauge
A tool for __________ and measuring the amount of
__________ which falls.
Anemometer
A tool for measuring the __________ of the wind, or of any
current of gas.
Wind vane
A tool that measures the __________ from which the wind is
blowing
Meteorologist
__________ that studies weather and __________
Atmosphere
the __________ of gasses surrounding the
__________
Condensation
Change in state of __________ from a
__________ to a liquid
Climate
Average __________ conditions for a __________
__________ after year
Decades
a period of __________ years.
Decrease
make or become __________ or fewer in size,
amount, intensity, or __________ .
Evaporation
__________ in state of matter from a __________
to a vapor or __________
Heat
the __________ of __________ energy from one
medium or object to another
Forecast
__________ or estimate (a __________ event or
trend).
Increase
make or become __________ or greater in size,
amount, __________ , or degree.
Wind direction
The __________ from which wind __________
Thermal Energy
the energy contained within a system that is
responsible for its ____________________
Weather
The current __________ conditions
Current conditions
the atmospheric __________ that make up the
atmosphere in terms of ____________________ ,
wind, __________, and precipitation.
Runoff
The __________ of water on a surface to areas of
lower ____________________
Celsius
Thermometer
__________ based on 0° for the __________ point
of water and 100° for the __________ point of
water.
Weather Patterns
occurs when the weather stays the __________
for days or __________ at a time.
Precipitation
__________ , snow, sleet, or __________ that
falls from clouds in the sky
Temperature
How __________ or __________ something is
Accumulation
A __________ or gathering of something that
occurs over __________
Fresh Water
Water found in __________ , lakes, __________ ,
and ice sheets and __________ that contains low
concentrations of salt
Saltwater
Water found in __________ (and a few lakes) that
contains 3–4% salt
Data
Information that has been __________
Humidity
The amount of water __________ in the air