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Weather Vocabulary

Weather Instruments

rain gauge thermometer hygrometer barometer wind vane anemometer

thermometer instrument used to measure temperature

wind vane instrument used to measure wind direction
rain gauge instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation that has fallen.
anemometer instrument used to measure wind speed
hygrometer instrument used to measure humidity
barometer instrument used to measure air pressure

Water Cycle words

water cycle evaporation condensation precipitation water vapor accumulation runoff

condensation the process by which a gas changes into a liquid; water vapor becomes liquid water
precipitation any form of water that falls from clouds such as rain or snow
evaporation the process by which a liquid changes into a gas; liquid water turns into water vapor
water cycle cycle in which Earth's water moves through the environment
water vapor water in its gaseous state (invisible)
runoff rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface or underground streams, drains, or sewers
accumulation the process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes)

Cloud types

cirrus cumulus stratus cumulonimbus fog

cumulus mid-level, puffy clouds

cumulonimbus clouds that bring summer storms, usuaJly with thunder, lightning, and strong winds
cirrus high-level clouds made mostly of ice crystals
stratus lower level, layered-looking clouds
fug clouds that form at ground level

Weather systems

high pressure area low pressure area front cold front warm front stationary front occluded front

occluded front where a cold front catches up to and overtakes a warm front.
stationary front when a cold and a warm air mass meet, but neither moves
warm front the leading edge of a moving mass of warm air
front the boundary where different air masses collide
cold front the leading edge of a moving mass of cold air
high pressure area a mass of cold air that usually brings fair weather
low pressure area a mass of warm air that often brings stormy weather
Other weather words
weather climate air pressure atmosphere humidity
global warming greenhouse effect local winds prevailing winds temperature
tornado hurricane air mass forecast
weather day-to-day changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, etc.
climate the average of aJ J weather conditions through aJ J seasons over a period of time
water vapor water in its gaseous state (invisible)
local winds winds dependent upon local changes in temperature
prevailing winds global winds that blow constantly in the same direction
atmosphere the layer of air that surrounds Earth
air pressure the weight of air
humidity a measure of the amount of water in the air
greenhouse effect process by which the Earth's atmosphere absorbs heat
global warming the hypothesized rise in Earth's temperature from excess carbon dioxide
temperature a measurement of the amount of heat a substance contains
tornado a narrow, violently rotating column of air characterized by winds greater than 50 mph
and a funnel cloud that reaches the ground (has a funnel-shaped cloud)
hurricane a large rotating windstorm with a calm central eye and winds greater than 73 mph (forms
over warm water)
air mass a body of air that has the same temperature and/or humidity throughout
forecast a prediction of the weather conditions for a given area and a given time period
 1Seaujd1rt 1MVindScal0
Created by Sir Francis Beaufort, of England, in 1805
Wind Speeds on Land

Wind speed Wind Scale

Force Land Observation
in mph Classification
0 Less than 1 Calm Smoke rises straight up

1 1-3 Light Air Smoke blows in wind

3-7 You can feel wind on your face or bare arms.

2 Light Breeze
Leaves rustle.
3 8-12 Gentle Breeze Little Twigs and leaves are moving all the time.
You can see small tree branches begin to move.
4 13-17 Moderate Breeze Wind also moves dust and single papers dropped
on the ground.

Fresh Breeze Large bushes and small trees will sway in the
5 18-24
wind; mid size tree branches away.
Large tree branches move, and the wind may
6 25-30 Strong Breeze seem to create a "whistling" sound. You'll feel it
if you walk or ride a bike in against the wind.
Whole trees move in the wind. It may be hard
7 31-38 Near Gale
to walk against the wind.

Gale \Nhole trees move in the wind. Very hard to

8 39-46
walk; wind may feel like it pushes you backward.
Wind is strong enough that it could blow tiles
9 47-54 Strong Gale
ofT a roof

Storm Some trees fall down in the wind or large

10 55-63
branches fall ofT; they may even be uprooted.
Many trees uprooted or broken. Roof materials
11 64-72 Violent Storm blown from buildings; widespread damage to
shrubs and other vegetation.
Widespread damage to vegetation, including
trees; windows broken, mobile homes blown
More than over; small sheds and barns damaged or blown
12 Hurricane
73 mph over; big chunks of tree branches or outdoor
furniture or broken structures may be blown in
the wind.

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Classroom Activity

Composting Vocabulary

ANALYZE - reactions or organisms requiring pres­

LEFTOVERS - food that is not eaten during a meal.

ence of free oxygen.

MANURE - animals' excrement (waste) used as fer­

ANAEROBIC - reaction or organism that does not

tilizer.

require the presence of free oxygen.

MICROORGANISM - a living thing which is too

BIODEGRADABLE - material that is able to be

small to be seen with the unaided eye.

readily decomposed or broken down by biological

NITROGEN - an element with seven protons, neu­

means, especially bacterial action.

trons and electrons that is found in various minerals

COMPOST - organic matter which has been

and all proteins.

decomposed by microorganisms.

NUTRIENTS - materials a body gets from food to

DECAY - to rot away; waste away.

use for energy, growth, and repair.

DECOMPOSE - break down; change form.

ORGANIC - occurs naturally in life.

DECOrvlPOSER - microorganism which breaks

OXYGEN - atom with eight protons, neutrons, and

down large organic molecules into smaller mole­

electrons; absolutely essential for life.

cules.

ROT - to decompose naturally.

DISINTEGRATE - to break up; crumble to pieces.

SOIL - top layer of earth's surface.

EARTH - the soil; dry land.

STALE - not fresh, kept too long.

HUMUS - nutrient-rich organic matter in soil.