Meteorological Terms
Meteorology is the study of weather. Meteorological terms
describe:
á
instruments
for gathering weather data
á
the
data they collect
á
the
unit they use
á
types
of weather
Temperature
á measures the
motion in air particles (kinetic energy)
á measured with a
thermometer
á metric unit is
Celsius
á standard unit is
Fahrenheit.
Relative Humidity
á measures water
vapor in the air
á measured with a
hygrometer
á the unit is
percent
á 100% humidity
means it is raining
Air Pressure
á the force of air
pushing on Earth
á measured with a
barometer
á moves from high
to low pressure
á causes wind
á standard unit is
inches of Mercury
á metric unit is
millibars of Mercury
á average pressure
is 29.92Ó Hg
High Air Pressure
á weather
associated with high pressure is dry
á the force of air
is pushing hard on the Earth, limiting evaporation
á symbol is a
capital H
á > 29.92 inches
of Hg
Low Air Pressure
á weather
associated with low pressure is wet
á the force of air
is pushing lightly on the Earth, increasing evaporation
á symbol for low
pressure is a capital L
á < 29.92 inches
of Hg
Wind Speed
á the rate at which
air is moving
á measured with an
anemometer
á the unit for wind
speed is Miles per Hour (mph)
á named after the
location wind is blowing from (N,S,E,W)
á ÒonshoreÓ and
ÒoffshoreÓ winds are named after the location they are blowing to