1. 8th grade Weather Vocabulary

2. the air that surrounds Earth and other planets
atmosphere
the air that surrounds Earth and other planets

3. troposphere
the layer of the atmosphere closest to earth (where most weather happens)

4. stratosphere
the second layer of the atmosphere (includes ozone layer; is where many airplanes fly because there are few clouds)

5. the third layer of the atmosphere (coldest layer)
mesosphere
the third layer of the atmosphere (coldest layer)

6. top layer of the atmosphere (includes the ionosphere)
thermosphere
top layer of the atmosphere (includes the ionosphere)

7. ionosphere
upper part of the thermosphere (has many atoms split into ions, reflects radio waves back to Earth)

8. ozone layer
blocks many of the sun’s ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth (holes are caused by a chemical called CFCs)

9. change from a gas to a liquid
condense
change from a gas to a liquid

10. change from a liquid to a gas
evaporate
change from a liquid to a gas

11. water, in the form of gas, that is in the air
water vapor
water, in the form of gas, that is in the air

12. high, wispy cloud made of ice crystals
cirrus cloud
high, wispy cloud made of ice crystals

13. puffy, white cloud at medium altitudes
cumulus cloud
puffy, white cloud at medium altitudes

14. low, flat cloud that forms in layers
stratus cloud
low, flat cloud that forms in layers

15. the rain, snow, sleet, and hail that fall to Earth
precipitation
the rain, snow, sleet, and hail that fall to Earth

16. wind
moving air

17. cycle of rising warm air and falling cold air
wind cell
cycle of rising warm air and falling cold air

18. pattern of wind movement around the earth
wind belt
pattern of wind movement around the earth

19. what is happening in the atmosphere at a specific time and place
weather
what is happening in the atmosphere at a specific time and place

20. the weight of air in the atmosphere pressing down on earth
air pressure
the weight of air in the atmosphere pressing down on earth

21. weather tool used to measure air pressure
barometer
weather tool used to measure air pressure

22. weather tool used to measure wind speed
anemometer
weather tool used to measure wind speed

23. amount of water vapor in the air
humidity
amount of water vapor in the air

24. weather tool used to measure humidity
psychrometer
weather tool used to measure humidity

25. weather tool used to find wind direction
wind vane
weather tool used to find wind direction

26. weather tool used to measure the amount of rainfall/precipitation
rain gauge
weather tool used to measure the amount of rainfall/precipitation

27. area of the atmosphere with constant temperature and humidity
air mass
area of the atmosphere with constant temperature and humidity

28. temperature
measure of how hot or cold something is; measured on the Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C) scales

29. boundary between two air masses
front
boundary between two air masses

30. lines on a weather map connecting areas of equal air pressure
isobar
lines on a weather map connecting areas of equal air pressure

31. powerful, funnel-shaped wind storm
tornado
powerful, funnel-shaped wind storm

32. powerful tropical storm, with high winds that revolve around an eye
hurricane
powerful tropical storm, with high winds that revolve around an eye

33. a chart that shows weather conditions at a particular time
weather map
a chart that shows weather conditions at a particular time

34. prediction of what the weather will be
forecast
prediction of what the weather will be

35. the usual weather in a certain area over many years
climate
the usual weather in a certain area over many years