Directions: Match the Term with Its Definition

Study Guide

Catastrophic Events

Directions: Match the term with its definition

__i__1. Air Mass a. an instrument used to measure air pressure

__g__2. Front b. the movement or flow of air as it changes

temperature

___e_3. Evaporation c. the process by which water vapor changes from a

gas to a liquid

___c_4. Condensation d. Water that falls from the atmosphere as rain,

sleet, snow or hail

__f__5. Cloud e. Liquid water heats up and changes into a gas

__h__6. Transpiration f. Tiny water droplets, ice and dust particles that

are grouped together

__b_7. Convection Current g. a boundary that forms when different air masses

meet

__l__8. Meteorologist h. The process by which plants release water vapor

into the air through their leaves

__a__9. Barometer i. air that has the same temperature and humidity

throughout

__k_10. Low pressure system j. usually creates calm weather

__j_11. High pressure system k. usually creates precipitation and bad weather

__d_12. Precipitation l. a scientist who studies the earth’s atmosphere and

forecasts weather

Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. How does an unstable air mass form? ___Two different air masses meet. A cold air mass slides under a warm air mass ______

2. Cold and dry air masses usually come from what location?__Northern Canada______

3. Warm and moist air masses usually come from what location? Gulf of Mexico_

4. What type of weather forms when two different air masses meet? ______Stormy weather______

5. How does air move or flow? Cold air _____sinks______and warm air ______rises______.

6. Using Doppler radar, as the frequency of the radar increases the storm is moving _____closer______

6. During a land breeze, the ______land____ cools faster so the warm air over the ____sea______rises and the ______cooler_____ air over the land moves towards the water.

7. Draw a picture of a land breeze:

8. During a sea breeze, air over the land ______heats____ faster. This air _____rises______the cooler air over the _____sea_____ moves in over the land.

9. Draw a picture of a sea breeze:

10. What happens to the air above a cold surface? ______It sinks towards the cold surface ______

11. What happens to the air above a warm surface? _____it rises trying to find cooler air______

Directions: Put the following words on the line next to their description

1. This type of front has dense cold air pushing lighter warm air upward.

______cold front____

2. This type of front has fast moving cold air overtaking slower moving warm air.

______Occluded Front______

3. This type of front happens when warm air overtakes a cold air mass

______warm front______

4. This type of front happens when two air masses move close to one another but they do not move each other.

______Stationary front______

5. What type of weather happens during a cold front? ______thunderstorms______

6. What type of weather happens during a warm front?

______light rain or snow______

7. What type of weather happens during an occluded front?

______large amounts of rain or snow______

8. What type of weather happens during a stationary front?

______rain or fog______