| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| air pressure | the pressure that a column of air exerts on the air or surface below |
| troposphere | -the atmospheric layer closest to the Earth, extending from the Earth’s surface to about 10km above it. |
| convection | circulation of rising, less dense, warm air and sinking, more dense, cool air |
| evaporation | the process of liquid, such as water, changing into gas, such as water vapor |
| condensation | the process of water-vapor changing into liquid water |
| humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air |
| precipitation | liquid or solid water that falls from the clouds to the Earth’s surface |
| air mass | large area of air that has uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure |
| pressure system | -a moving air mass with a particular pressure |
| fronts | boundaries where two air masses meet |
| cumulonimbus clouds | the type of cloud that can form thunderstorms |
| thunderstorms | a weather event that includes rain, strong winds, thunder and lighting |
| lighting | the electricity discharged within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground |
| tornado | a violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground, is sometimes called a twiste |
| hurricane | an intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km/h |
| storm surge | when a hurricane approaches land, its winds can push ocean water higher along the coast |
| drought | a period of below average precipitation in an area that can last for several months |
| ecoregion | a large area of land that has a distinct group of plants, animals and other species |
| climate | long-term weather conditions in an area |
|
groundwater |
precipitation that soaks into the cracks and pores beneath the Earth’s surface |
| surface water | water that fills lakes and rivers |
| watershed | an area of land where all of the runoff drains to the same body of water |
| erosion | process of moving weathered material from one location to another |
| deposition | the process where water slows down, and the eroded material is laid down and settles |
| weathering | as water, wind and ice move across the Earth, they break down rock and is dependent on temperature and humidity in an area |
