| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| air mass | a large body of air that has about the same temperature, are pressure, and moisture throughout |
| air pressure | the weight of air as it presses down on Earth's surface |
| atmosphere | the layers of air that surround Earth's surface |
| climate | the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time |
| condensation | the change of state from a gas to a liquid |
| evaporation | the change of state from a liquid to a gas |
| front | the place where two air masses meet |
| greenhouse effect | the process by which heat from the Sun builds up near Earth's surface and is trapped there by the atmosphere |
| polar climate | weather pattern of very cold temperatures throughout the year, as found near the North Pole and the South Pole |
| precipitation | any form of water that falls from clouds to Earth's surface |
| temperate climate | usually have warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters |
| tropical climate | hot and rainy for most or all of the year |
| water cycle | the movement of water into the air as water vapor and back to Earth's surface as precipitation |
| weather | the conditions of the atmosphere at a certain time and place |
