W is for Weather!

Jonathan GrayCaroline Ferree

A is for Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the gases that surround theearth, kept in place by the earth's gravity. It comes apart in layers, which, in order, are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, then finally the exosphere.

B is for Barometer

A Barometer is a meteorological tool used for measuring air pressure. There are many other tools used for different things, such as a hygrometer, used for measuring precipitation, or an anemometer, which is used for measuring wind speed.

C is for Clouds

Clouds are those little white things you see in the sky. There are actually different kinds of them. The main three types of clouds you see are the Stratus, Cumulus, and Cirrus Clouds.

Cirrus clouds are wispy clouds that look like white smears across the high sky.

Cumulus clouds are puffy typical clouds with flat bottoms.

Stratus Clouds look like low hanging, grey blankets.

C is for Convection

Convection is the movement caused with a difference of heat between areas in the air. This causes hot air to rise, and cold air to sink, because of the "weight difference".

D is for Dew Point

The Dew Point is the point in temperature when water vapor becomes very wet and condensation begins.

E is for Energy of the Sun

The Sun is a star the the earth circles around. The sun provides light and energy that things on earth need to live. The Energy from the Sun is called Solar Energy. Solar energy allows plants and animals to grow and develop!

What's with the Sun?

The sun is the driving force with weather. It heats up the air, and causes differences in the air temperature. This causes convection in the earths atmosphere. Wind starts to flow, Breezes form, weather could not begin without the sun!

F is for Fronts

A Weather Front is a zone of transition between two different air masses. Those colorful lines you see on the television maps represent the 3 different fronts:Warm Front-This is where warm air replaces cold air. This brings storms, muggy, and bad weather for a long period of time.

Cold Front-These are the opposite of warm fronts. These bring clear skies, dry, and colder weather.

Occluded Front-Occluded Fronts are formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front. The colder air plows under the warmer air and occludes it from the ground.

G is for Getting Images

Scientists put machines called satellites into outer space. The satellites take pictures of the earth.

Satellite Image

Satellite

H is for Hurricanes

Hurricanes are rotating storms with violent winds that blow over 74 miles per hour. These storms bring damage across the area it hits, and sometimes years are needed for full recovery!

I is for Isotherm and Isobar

An Isotherm is a type of contour line that connects points of the the same temperature at a given date or time on a weather map. An Isobar is pretty much the same thing, but connects points that have equal pressure instead of temperature.

J is for Jet Stream

A Jet Stream is a narrow band of strong wind blowing from the west. These are located several miles above the ground and blow fast air across the sky.

K is for Knots

No, this is "knot" the knot you tie on your shoe...

A knot is a unit of speed used for navigation and is based off of the perimeter of the planet earth.

A knot is equal to travelling 1 nautical mile per hour.

L is for Lightning

Lightning is a bright flash of electricity you see in a storm. Every thunderstorm produces lightning and can be deadly. That loud thunder you hear comes from lightning striking the ground.

M is for Map

A weather map is a universal reference to show patterns in the weather. There are different symbols that show different conditions.

N is for Nimbus

Nimbus means rain. Nimbus comes in words that have to do with rain, such as Nimbus Clouds, or simply, rain clouds. The beginning of a word being "Nimbo-" shows a precipitating cloud.

O is for Ocean Currents

Ocean currents are the steady flow of ocean water in any direction. Just like wind currents, this is caused by the different temperatures of different areas of water and the rotation of the earth.

Does the Ocean Stand Alone?

The ocean does not stand alone! The ocean becomes heated, it stores this heat, and heats up the air around... This can cause uneven heating and start to move the air with differences in air pressure. Sometimes, the difference becomes so great, great storms form and can destroy many things in its path!

P is for Pressure

Pressure throughout the atmosphere gives a major role in weather across the world. Whether the atmospheric pressure is higher or lower decides on the pressure system respectively.

Low pressure systems usually bring high winds, warm air, and atmospheric lifting. Due to this, clouds, precipitation, and bad weather come.

High Pressure usually brings clear skies, dry weather, and light winds. These bring anticyclones that spin in a clockwise formation, unlike the cyclones of a low pressure area, which spin counterclockwise.

P is for Precipitation

Precipitation is when water vapor forms ice crystals and water droplets in the air and fall to the ground. It can take 4 different forms as it forms, each having various appearances. These forms include Rain, Snow, Sleet, or Hail.

Q is for Quality

The Quality of the air can change immediately as a front moves in. Clouds form fast, rain forming faster.

R is for Relative Humidity

Relative Humidity is the amount of water vapor actually in the air, shown as a percentage of what the air is capable of holding.

S is for Storms

Storms are disturbances of the atmosphere with usual high winds common with rain, thunder, and lightning. Some storms include very violent weather, such as tornadoes. Tornadoes are rotating columns of wind that touch the ground and the clouds above and can go above 300 miles per hour!

T is for Thermometer

A Thermometer is a meteorological instrument that help measure heat in a certain area.

U is for Unstable Air

Unstable Air is pretty much an air mass with bad weather. When a warm front is replaced by a cold front, the air becomes unstable and can form stormy weather.

V is for Visibility

Visibility is the distance one is able to see. Clouds that form near the ground and fog can decrease visibility, and clear skies obviously increase visibility.

W is for Weather

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time. Weather is the day to day temperature and activity, unlike climate, which refers to long term conditions.

W is for Wind Currents

Wind currents are the action of the wind in any direction. Air pressure that is different in an area will cause air to move, creating movement in the atmosphere. Wind currents are named after where they blow from.

How is Local Weather Affected?

The jet stream is a global wind that moves across the earth from west to east. It effects local weather by moving weather from one place to another.

X is for X Rays

X Rays are waves that come from the sun in the form of radiation. Exposure to these waves can alter body actions and can affect your living. The Ozone protects us from these rays and many others, including UV and gamma waves.

Y is for Years

Years are 365 days. Over the whole year, seasons change, and weather patterns do as well. The tilt of the earth affects the temperature and wind patterns of the earth, and affect the overall activity of the weather.

Z is for Zonal Flow

Zonal Flow is the general flow of a jet stream going along latitude lines. These winds tend to go from east to west.

Who did what-

Jonathan Gray-Atmosphere-Convection-Wind and Ocean Currents-High and Low pressure-Fronts-Hurricanes-Tornadoes-Weather Map-Drawn Graphics-Concept A and CFinal Edits (Aesthetics)

Caroline Ferree-Sun-Sun's Energy-Isotherm and Isobar-Types of precipitation-Types of clouds-Dew Point-How scientists get images-Meteorological Instruments-Concept B-Title Page-"who did what" page