Weather Test Study guide
Vocabulary
Evaporation: __________________________________________________
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weather: ______________________________________________________
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climate: ________________________________________________
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water cycle: ___________________________________________________
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air pressure: ___________________________________________________
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condensation: __________________________________________________
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cirrus clouds: __________________________________________________
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tornado:_______________________________________________________
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precipitation: __________________________________________________
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hurricane: ____________________________________________________
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atmosphere: ___________________________________________________
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Front: _______________________________________________________
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Warm front: __________________________________________________
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water vapor: ___________________________________________________
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1. Describe a warm front and a cold front. What type of weather do they
bring?
Warm fronts- a faster moving warm air mass meets a cold air mass.
The warm air rides up over the heavy cold air. Allowing the air to
warm up and the temperatures to rise, it will also bring rain that will
last for days.
Cold Front- Cold fronts form where a faster moving cold air mass
meets a warm air mass. The cold air mass pushes under the warm air,
causing the warm air to be moved up. The temperatures get colder
and it could bring short heavy showers or severe weather.
2. Where do most tornados occur?
Midwest and south
3. What makes up the atmosphere?
A layer of gases, tiny particles, and water
4. How does air move?
Air moves horizontally
5. What are the types of clouds? What do they look like? Where are they
located?
Cirrus- high level clouds form more than 6 km above the ground,
often thin wispy, and white
Cumulus or altocumulus- mid-level clouds, look like small, puffy
balls.
Status- low level clouds, cover the whole sky and look dark because
little sunlight gets through the layer of clouds
Cumulonimbus- grow vertically and have rising air inside them.
Cause thunderstorms
Fog- cloud at ground level
6. Explain the water cycle and all of its steps.
Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, run-off
7. Name three factors that affect temperature and precipitation.
Latitude, elevation, and nearness to large bodies of water
8. What are air masses? What type of weather comes from the northern
Atlantic Ocean? Why?
Air masses are huge patches of air that drift across Earth’s surface,
affecting the weather. Air masses from the Northern Atlantic Ocean
bring cool, humid air. Air masses usually have the weather
characteristics of the area in which they form.
9. How do Fronts help predict weather?
Fronts give clues about weather changes. As fronts move, areas just ahead
of the front with experience a change in weather. When fronts collide,
scientists can locate places where sudden weather changes, including
dangerous storms, may occur.
10. Describe what each weather tool and what it measures.
a. Thermometer- measures temperature in degrees
b. Anemometer- measures wind speed
c. Wind vane-measures wind direction
d. Hygrometer-measures the humidity in the air
e. Barometer- measures air pressure
f. Rain gauge-measures rainfall
11. How does the weather change when the air pressure rises? Lowers?
High air pressure- will bring clear skies because clouds can’t form where air
is sinking.
Low air pressure- clouds tend to form and you will often have rain.
12. List the thunderstorm safety rules.
A. Stay away from open windows
B. If you are in a open area, crouch down
C. Stay away from water