5th Science Unit 2 Earth Systems Vocabulary Review

Matter with no set volume and no set shape.

A mixture of gases that is all around us.

An area of land that is always wet and usually has tall grass rather than trees as its vegetation

A tool used to measure the speed of wind.

Precipitation formed when tiny ice crystals in clouds stick together.

A tool that shows wind (moving air) direction.

The force exerted on a surface by the air above it as gravity pulls it to Earth.

Matter with a set volume but no set shape.

A tool for measuring atmospheric pressure.

Average weather conditions for a region year after year.

A vast, flat, treeless region in which the subsoil is permanently frozen.

Multi-level clouds, extending high into the sky in towers or plumes; thunderclouds

Distinct forms of matter known in everyday experience: solid, liquid, and gas; also referred to as phases

Precipitation formed in updrafts of thunderstorms carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere

The constant movement of water through the land, air, oceans, and living things.

Increase or decrease of heat energy in a substance

The movement of water on a surface to areas of lower elevation.

Water in the form of a gas.

The temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a solid; 32°F, 0°C

Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls from clouds in the sky.

An area of land that receives no more than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation a year.

Lower-level clouds that cover the sky like a blanket; usually mean rain or snow.

Large, white puffy clouds; bring little to no precipitation

How hot or cold something is.

The temperature at which a substance changes state from a solid to a liquid.

Thin clouds found high in the sky; bring no precipitation.

A drawing or picture that shows the current condition of the air outdoors.

The amount of water vapor in the air.

A design or sequence that is repeated.

Change in state of matter from a liquid to a vapor or gas.

Snowflakes that partially melt when falling through warm air then refreeze when falling through a layer of freezing air.

Coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on Earth’s surface; indicates changes in climate.

A colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid living things need to survive.

A tool that measures the amount of rain at a location.

The distance above sea level where air pressure is low.

The current outdoor conditions.

The layer of gas surrounding planet Earth that is held in place by gravity.

A large open area covered with grass; not enough regular rainfall to support a forest, but enough not to become desert.

Matter with a set volume and shape.

Change in state of matter from a gas to a liquid.