Air – A general word used for the gases and other particles that make up the atmosphere.
Air Mass – A large body of air, up to several hundred miles wide and several miles deep, that moves across the earth.
Air pressure – The force created by the atmosphere.
Anemometer – An instrument used to measure wind speed.
Atmosphere – The ocean of air, made up of gases, liquids, and solid particles, that surrounds the earth.
Barometer – An instrument used to measure air pressure.
Celsius – A scale that is used to measure temperature; 0 degrees is the freezing point of water and 100 degrees is the boiling point.
Cirrus – A thick high level cloud, made up of ice particles.
Cloud – A group of suspended water and/or ice particles in the air.
Condensation – When water vapor (a gas) changes to liquid water.
Cumulus – A cotton ball shaped cloud.
Dew – Small droplets of water found on surfaces, formed when temperatures on these surfaces reaches the dew point.
Dew Point – The temperature where air cannot hold additional moisture, and condensation will begin.
Equator – An imaginary line on earth halfway between the North Pole and South Pole.
Evaporation – When liquid water changes to a gas (water vapor).
Fahrenheit – A scale that is used to measure temperature; 32 degrees is the freezing point of water and 212 degrees is the boiling point.
Fog – A cloud at ground level.
Gas – A substance, often invisible, made up of small particles that can expand and contract, and move easily.
Greenhouse Effect – Warming of the atmosphere by slowing the release of heat to space, due to greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Global Warming – Increased warming of the atmosphere due to increases in the amount of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Hail – Pellets or balls of ice that form in layers.
Humidity – Water vapor in the air.
Hurricane – A large storm that forms in the ocean.
Lightning – Visible electrical discharge in the atmosphere.
Liquid – A substance that can easily flow, but cannot be squeezed together easily.
Nimbus – A prefix or suffix used to indicate precipitation is falling from a cloud.
Precipitation – Water, snow, or ice falling from a cloud.
Rain – Liquid water falling from a cloud.
Relative humidity – The actual amount of moisture in the air, compared to the maximum amount the air can hold for a specific temperature.
Revolution – The trip the Earth makes around the sun.
Rotation – The spin of the Earth.
Sleet – Rain that freezes just before it hits ground.
Solid – A firm substance that has a definite shape.
Snow – Precipitation made up of ice crystals.
Storm – A severe weather occurrence that may have rain, snow, wind, and lightning.
Stratus – A sheet or blanket type cloud.
Temperature – A measure of heat.
Thunder – Sound created by superheated air from lightning.
Tornado – A funnel shaped, spinning cloud with very high winds.
Weather – Day to day changes in temperature, wind, air pressure, and moisture in the atmosphere.
Wind – Air movement in the atmosphere.
Wind vane – An instrument used to measure the direction the wind is coming from.
