meteorology - study of weather, climate, and the earth's atmosphere
weather - daily condition of the earth's atmosphere in any place or region; it occurs in the troposphere
heat or thermal energy - changes in temperature; main source is the sun
pressure = force/area of the surface the force is being applied to
the force applied by the gases in the atmosphere is mostly coming from its weight
our atmosphere is held close to earth by gravity
force of gravity is weaker the farther an object is from the center of the earth; the higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure
airmass - immense body of air with uniform temperature and pressure
airbody or weather front - boundary between two air masses
wind - horizontal movement of air over the earth's surface; moves from a region of high pressure to low pressure
weather vane - tells direction of the wind
anemometer - measures wind speed
beaufort scale - relates wind speed to conditions observes over land or sea
breeze - wind that is caused by the difference in temperature of land adjacent to a body of water
the difference in heat capacity of the land (heat and cools faster) and water (heat and cools slower) causes different air temperatures above them and produces convection currents
type of breezes:
A) sea
B) land
C) warmer
D) cooler
monsoon - reversal of wind direction with the season
southwest monsoon (hanging habagat) - june to october; warm and humid winds with frequent heavy rains
northeast monsoon (hanging amihan) - november to february; cool wind and prolonged rains
trade winds - march to april; wind that reliably blows eat to west just north and south of equator; dry warm weather
doldrums or inter-tropical convergence zone (itcz) - where north and south hemisphere meet and start to produce cyclones; calm winds and low pressure
coriolis effect - apparent turning of wind caused by earth's rotation
northern hemisphere turns counterclockwise
south hemisphere turns clockwise
humidity - amount of water vapor (moisture) in air
hygrometer - measures humidity
relative humidity - amount of water vapor in the air compared with the amount that the air can hold at current temperature
clouds - forms when air becomes saturated
precipitation - when enough water vapor coalesces in the clouds; occurs in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail
air pressure - downward force exerted by the atmosphere