Meteorology Vocabulary

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Study the scientific language of weather and climate, from atmospheric phenomena to forecasting techniques and storm systems.

1.
What is a 'barometer' used to measure?
A
Temperature
B
Atmospheric pressure
C
Wind speed
D
Humidity
2.
What does 'isobar' mean on a weather map?
A
A line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure
B
A line marking rainfall amounts
C
A line connecting points of equal temperature
D
A line showing wind direction
3.
What is the 'troposphere'?
A
The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere
B
The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs
C
The layer that contains the ozone
D
The layer closest to the sun
4.
What does 'precipitation' include?
A
Only rain
B
All forms of water falling from the atmosphere, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail
C
Fog and mist only
D
Only snow and ice
5.
What is a 'cold front'?
A
The boundary where a mass of cold air advances and replaces warmer air
B
A temperature reading below freezing
C
A snowstorm in winter
D
A period of unusually cold weather
6.
What does 'humidity' measure?
A
The temperature of the air
B
The amount of water vapor in the air
C
The pressure of the atmosphere
D
The speed of the wind
7.
What is a 'cumulonimbus' cloud?
A
A flat, layered cloud
B
A cloud that only forms at night
C
A thin, wispy cloud
D
A towering, dense cloud associated with thunderstorms
8.
What does the 'dew point' indicate?
A
The highest temperature of the day
B
The time when dew appears on grass
C
The temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapor condenses
D
The amount of rainfall expected
9.
What is an 'anemometer' used for?
A
Measuring air quality
B
Measuring temperature
C
Measuring wind speed
D
Measuring rainfall
10.
What does 'convection' refer to in meteorology?
A
The reflection of sunlight
B
Wind blowing horizontally
C
The rotation of Earth
D
The vertical movement of air driven by temperature differences
11.
What is a 'cyclone'?
A
A straight-line wind
B
A type of lightning
C
A large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low pressure
D
A dust storm
12.
What does 'albedo' measure?
A
The speed of a storm
B
The depth of snowfall
C
The height of clouds
D
The proportion of sunlight reflected by a surface
13.
What is a 'jet stream'?
A
A tropical ocean current
B
A stream formed by melting ice
C
A type of airplane
D
A narrow band of strong wind in the upper atmosphere
14.
What is 'wind shear'?
A
Wind that blows in a circle
B
A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance
C
A gentle breeze
D
The calming of wind before a storm
15.
What does 'stratosphere' refer to?
A
The ocean floor
B
The core of the Earth
C
The surface of the moon
D
The layer of Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, containing the ozone layer

Answer Key

Question 1

B. Atmospheric pressure

Question 2

A. A line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure

Question 3

B. The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs

Question 4

B. All forms of water falling from the atmosphere, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail

Question 5

A. The boundary where a mass of cold air advances and replaces warmer air

Question 6

B. The amount of water vapor in the air

Question 7

D. A towering, dense cloud associated with thunderstorms

Question 8

C. The temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapor condenses

Question 9

C. Measuring wind speed

Question 10

D. The vertical movement of air driven by temperature differences

Question 11

C. A large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low pressure

Question 12

D. The proportion of sunlight reflected by a surface

Question 13

D. A narrow band of strong wind in the upper atmosphere

Question 14

B. A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance

Question 15

D. The layer of Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, containing the ozone layer

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