air pressure: the weight of the air in the atmosphere pressing down on the Earth’s surface
alto- :a prefix that means high; an alto-cumulus cloud is a high cumulus cloud
anemometer: an instrument used to measure wind speed
atmosphere: the gases that surround a planet
cirrus: very high, white, thin clouds; often look feathery and wispy; made of ice crystals
condensation: the physical change of a gas, or vapor, to a liquid when heat is removed
cumulus: low, puffy, white clouds with flat bases and rounded tops
evaporation: vaporization that occurs at the surface of a liquid at any temperature below the boiling point of the liquid
exosphere : top layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, located above the thermosphere; human-made satellites orbit Earth in this layer
humidity: the amount of moisture, or water vapor, in the air
hurricane : a large storm with heavy rain and winds greater than 73 miles per hour
mesosphere: layer of the Earth’s atmosphere located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere; most meteors burn up in this layer
meteorologist: a scientist who observes and studies the Earth’s atmosphere and climate; a scientist who observes, measures, and reports the weather
meteorology: the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, climate, and weather
natural resources: materials found in nature and used by humans, such as water, air, minerals, soil, and wood
nimbo- :a prefix that means rain cloud
-nimbus : a suffix that means rain cloud
ozone layer: layer of the Earth’s atmosphere located in the upper half of the stratosphere; contains ozone, a form of oxygen, that protects us from the harmful rays of the Sun
pollution: contamination of the Earth’s natural resources; an undesirable change in the environment, often caused by human beings
precipitation: liquid and solid water that falls from clouds and reaches the ground; rain, drizzle, hail, sleet, and snow
stratosphere: layer of the Earth’s atmosphere located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere; jets often fly in the lower stratosphere
stratus: low, gray, thick clouds located near the ground; fog and drizzle
thermosphere: layer of the Earth’s atmosphere located above the mesosphere and below the exosphere; this layer reflects radio waves back to Earth
tornado: a funnel-shaped storm cloud that reaches the ground; winds can reach 300 miles per hour, causing great damage
troposphere: lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere; all weather occurs in this layer; most clouds form in the troposphere
typhoon: a violent storm, similar to a hurricane, that develops in the western Pacific Ocean
vaporization: describes the physical change of a liquid to a gas, or vapor, when heat is added; can occur at any temperature; includes evaporation and boiling
water cycle: endless cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
weather vane: an instrument used to show the direction of the wind
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