Unit 4 Lessons 4 - 7 Vocabulary

a gradual increase in average global temperatures global warming

the size and shape of the land features of a region, including relief topography

the distance north or south of the Equator; expressed in degrees latitude

a pattern of meteorological symbols that represents the weather at a particular observing station and that is recorded on a weather map station model

the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate solar energy greenhouse effect

a destructive rotating column of air that has very high wind speed, and that may be visible as a funnel shaped cloud tornado

a usually brief, heavy storm that consists of rain, strong winds, thunder, and lightning thunderstorm

a horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind that occurs at or near the ocean’s surface surface current

the weather conditions inan area over a long period of time climate

a local rise in sea level near the shore that is caused by strong winds from a storm, such as those from a hurricane storm surge

the scientific study of Earth’s atmosphere, especially in relation to weather and climate meteorology

the short term state of the atmosphere including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility weather

a severe storm that develops over tropical oceans and whose strong winds of more that 119 km/h spiral in toward the intensely low-pressure center hurricane

the height of an object above sea level altitude

the sound caused by the rapid expansion of air along a lightning strike thunder

a long period of climatic cooling during which the continents are glaciated repeatedly ice age

the process of predicting atmospheric conditions by collecting and analyzing atmospheric data weather forecasting

an electric discharge that takes place between two oppositely charged surfaces such as between a cloud and the ground lightning