Weather and Atmosphere Flashcards
Grade 6 · Science · Flashcards
Key vocabulary and concepts for understanding Earth's atmosphere and weather systems.
Flashcards
- Atmosphere
- The mixture of gases surrounding Earth, held by gravity; made mostly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).
- Troposphere
- The lowest atmospheric layer (0-12 km); where all weather occurs; temperature decreases with altitude.
- Stratosphere
- The second atmospheric layer (12-50 km); contains the ozone layer; temperature increases with altitude.
- Ozone layer
- A region in the stratosphere with concentrated ozone gas that absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
- Air pressure
- The force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere on a surface area; decreases with increasing altitude.
- Water cycle
- The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
- Evaporation
- The process by which liquid water absorbs heat and changes into water vapor, entering the atmosphere.
- Condensation
- The process by which water vapor cools and changes into liquid water droplets, forming clouds or dew.
- Precipitation
- Water falling from clouds to Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Weather front
- The boundary between two air masses with different temperatures; often brings changing weather.
- Humidity
- The amount of water vapor in the air; relative humidity compares actual vapor to maximum possible at that temperature.
- Barometer
- An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure; used to help predict weather changes.
- Anemometer
- An instrument used to measure wind speed.
- Climate
- The average weather conditions of an area over a long period of time (30+ years), as opposed to day-to-day weather.
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