Vocabulary

VocabularyCover_Weather_Watch

Air molecules:
tiny invisible particles that always fill the air
Context: When air molecules bump into each other they create air pressure.
Air pressure:
what gets created when air molecules bump into each other
Context: Air pressure has a lot to do with making weather!
Anemometer:
an instrument used to measure how fast the wind blows
Context: When Hurricane Rita came to Texas in 2005 the anemometer measured the wind speed at 120 miles per hour!
Atmosphere:
what’s between us and outer space
Context: The atmosphere has five layers. The closest one is the troposphere.
Barometer:
the instrument used to measure air pressure
Context: We use a barometer to tell us if the weather will change soon.
Celsius:
what the metric system uses to measure temperature
Context: Using the metric system, water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
Climate:
patterns of weather over a long time
Context: El Paso has a dry climate because it receives only about 9 inches of precipitation a year.
Dew:
when moisture in the air gets too heavy and settles to the ground
Context: Ever notice wet grass even when it didn’t rain? That’s dew.
Evacuate:
to leave and go somewhere safe
Context: When Hurricane Ike struck in 2008, many people had to evacuate Galveston Island.
Fahrenheit:
what the customary system uses to measure the temperature
Context: Using the customary system, water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Forecast:
a prediction about what will happen next
Context: Meteorologists, like Paul Yura, forecast the weather and help keep us safe.
Hail:
chunks of ice that fall from the sky
Context: Tennis-ball sized pieces of hail fell near Dallas in May 1995 during America’s worst hail storm of the 20th century.
Hurricane:
huge wind storms that form over the ocean
Context: One of the deadliest hurricanes in Texas history struck Galveston in 1900
Meteorologist:
a scientist who studies weather
Context: If you love nature and science you could be a meteorologist, like Paul Yura!
Meteorology:
science that deals with the weather.
Context: Texas A&M University has lots of scientists who study meteorology.
Sleet:
snow that melts as it falls
Context: Sleet gets made when snow passes through a layer of warm air on its way down.
Temperature:
how hot or cold the air is
Context: The average temperature in San Angelo is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summertime the temperature can reach over 100 degrees, just like most places in Texas!
Tornado:
a rotating wind storm that touches a cloud and the ground at the same time
Context: The Waco Tornado was the most dangerous Texas tornado ever. The crazy twister touched down the afternoon of May 11, 1953.
Troposphere:
One of the five layers of atmosphere between us and outer space.
Context: Weather gets made in the troposphere.
Vortex:
a whirling mass of air or water that makes column
Context: The spinning center inside the tornado is the vortex.