| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| air | The mixture of gaseous substances that make up Earth’s atmosphere, which is primarily nitrogen and oxygen. |
| altitude | The elevation level above the sea. |
| atmosphere | The layer of gases that surround a planet or moon. |
| climate | The typical / usual weather for an area, usually determined over a span of thirty years or more. |
| clouds | Visible groups of water droplets formed in the atmosphere. Fog forms nearer to the Earth’s surface. |
| condensation | The process of change from a gaseous state to a liquid state that is usually accomplished when the air warms up and cools down again |
| energy | Many different forms that cause motion. It is measured in joules. |
| evaporation | The process of change from a liquid state to a gaseous state that is usually accomplished when the air cools down and warms up again. |
| exosphere | The outermost region of a planet’s atmosphere. |
| freezing | A point during which a liquid solidifies; freezing point is thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. |
| front (cold, warm) | A boundary where two masses of air of different temperature meet. |
| Gulf Stream | A strong ocean currents that flows from the Gulf of Mexico to northwestern Europe along the Atlantic Ocean. |
| humidity | The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. |
| hypothesis | A possible explanation of a phenomena or occurrence that can be proved or disproved by observations and / or testing. |
| landform | A physical feature found on the Earth’s surface. |
| latitude | The angular distance from of a location to the earth’s equator. Lines of latitude run from east to west. |
| melting | A point during which a solid liquefies. |
| mesosphere | The region of the earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. |
| meterologist | An expert in or student of meteorology, or the study of the atmosphere. |
| ocean current | A continuous, directed movement of seawater or ocean water. |
| precipitation | The movement of water from the Earth’s atmosphere to the surface of the planet. |
| pressure (high, low) | A physical force exerted on or against an object. It is measured in either pounds per square inch (psi) or 100 newtons per square meter (millibars). |
| prevailing wind | The most common wind direction for an area, affected by the latitude of the area. |
| stratosphere | The layer of the Earth that is above the troposphere and above the mesosphere. |
| thermosphere | The layer of the Earth’s atmosphere in which the temperature steadily rises as altitude increases. This region is located above the mesosphere. |
| troposphere | The lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, starting from the planet’s surface and extending up to 20km above sea level. Almost all weather occurs within the troposphere. |
| water cycle | The movement of water from one state to another as it circulates throughout different parts of the earth. |
| water vapor | Water’s gaseous state. |
| weather | The current state of the atmosphere at a specific place or area. |
| wind | The perceptible movement of air from areas of lower pressure to areas of lower pressure. |
