th
8
grade Weather Vocabulary
atmosphere
the air that surrounds Earth and
other planets
troposphere
the layer of the atmosphere closest
to earth
(where most weather happens)
stratosphere
the second layer of the atmosphere (includes
ozone layer; is where many airplanes fly
because there are few clouds)
mesosphere
the third layer of the atmosphere
(coldest layer)
thermosphere
top layer of the atmosphere
(includes the ionosphere)
ionosphere
upper part of the thermosphere (has
many atoms split into ions, reflects
radio waves back to Earth)
ozone layer
blocks many of the sun’s ultraviolet
rays from reaching the earth (holes
are caused by a chemical called CFCs)
condense
change from a gas to a liquid
evaporate
change from a liquid to a gas
water vapor
water, in the form of gas, that is in
the air
cirrus cloud
high, wispy cloud made of ice
crystals
cumulus cloud
puffy, white cloud at medium
altitudes
stratus cloud
low, flat cloud that forms in layers
precipitation
the rain, snow, sleet, and hail that
fall to Earth
wind
moving air
wind cell
cycle of rising warm air and falling
cold air
wind belt
pattern of wind movement around
the earth
weather
what is happening in the
atmosphere at a specific time and
place
air pressure
the weight of air in the atmosphere
pressing down on earth
barometer
weather tool used to measure
air pressure
anemometer
weather tool used to measure
wind speed
humidity
amount of water vapor in the air
psychrometer
weather tool used to measure
humidity
wind vane
weather tool used to find
wind direction
rain gauge
weather tool used to measure the
amount of rainfall/precipitation
air mass
area of the atmosphere with
constant temperature and
humidity
temperature
measure of how hot or cold
something is; measured on the
Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C) scales
front
boundary between two air masses
isobar
lines on a weather map connecting
areas of equal air pressure
tornado
powerful, funnel-shaped
wind storm
hurricane
powerful tropical storm, with high
winds that revolve around an eye
weather map
a chart that shows weather
conditions at a particular time
forecast
prediction of what the weather
will be
climate
the usual weather in a certain area
over many years