A AGRICULTURE - the science or practice of cultivating land on a large scale AIR - the mixture of gases in the atmosphere AIR PRESSURE - a force exerted on a object by the weight of air ALTO - high ALTOCUMULUS - a layer (or patches) composed of rather flattened globular masses ALTOSTRATUS - striated or fibrous clouds, more or less gray or bluish in color ANEMOMETER - an instrument for measuring the force of wind AQUEDUCT - an artificial channel carrying water ARGON - an inert gas comprising about 1% of the atmosphere in volume ARTESIAN - underground water trapped under pressure in a porus layer between non-porus rock layers ARTESIAN WELL - a well into the Earth where there is a constant supply of water with little or no pumping ASH - the solid residue left when combustibly material is thoroughly burned or is oxidized by chemical means ATMOSPHERE - the mixture of gases surrounding the Earth ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE - the force felt by objects throughout the atmosphere  AQUIFER - an underground layer of sand, gravel, or rock through which water can pass
B BRACKISH - a mixture of fresh and salt water
C CAPILLARY - a force causing water to move upward through a tube with a small diameter CARBON - a native, nonmetallic chiefly tetravalent element CARBON DIOXIDE - a gas occupying only a small portion of the atmosphere, made of carbon and oxygen CENTIGRADE - metric measurement of heat; using a temperature scale divided into 100 degrees CHLORIDE - a compound of chlorine with another element or radical salt or ester of hydrochloric acid  CIRROCUMULUS - a layer of patch of clouds composed of small white flakes or of very small globular masses CIRROSTRATUS - a thin whitish cloud which does not blur the outlines of the sun or the moon, but usually gives rise to halos CIRRUS - detached clouds of delicate and fibrous appearance; usually without shading generally white in color, often of silky appearance CLEAN - free from dirt or pollution CLEAN UP - an act or instance of cleaning CLEAR - free from cloudiness or pollution CLIMATE - the regular weather conditions of an area CLOUD - mixture of a minute water droplets and ice crystals COLD - having a low temperature often below that compatible with human comfort COLD AIR - air that is cool and dense, tends to be the closest to the ground COLD CLIMATE - an annual cold weather condition  COLD FRONT - an advancing edge of a cold air mass CONDENSATION - the changing of water vapor to liquid CONSERVATION - the preservation and wise use of natural resources CONTINENTAL - of, relating to, or characteristic of a continent COVALENT - a strong chemical bond CONVECTION - the most important form of heat transfer within the atmosphere CORIOLIS - the movement of water and air caused by a rotating Earth  CUMULONIMBUS - heavy masses of clouds with great vertical development CUMULUS - dense clouds with vertical development, the upper surface is dome shaped and rounded and the surface and the base is nearly horizontal CURRENTS - a horizontal flow of water
D DAM - to hold back water and control its flow DENSITY - the mass of unit volume of a substance at a specified temperature and pressure  DEW - water from the air that forms in little drops on cool surfaces at night DIRTY - not clean or pure DISASTER - an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star DISSOLVED - to cause to disperse or disappear DISTILLATION - the process of heating a liquid so as to give off vapor which is cooled so that it becomes a purer liquid DOLDRUMS - a quiet area, where wind doesn't blow for periods of time DREDGE - a sample from the bottom of the ocean DRIZZLE - to rain in very small drops or very lightly DROPLET - a tiny drop (as of liquid) DROUGHT - a long period of unusually low rainfall DRY - free from liquid
E ECHO SOUNDING - sound vibrations that bounce off of an object ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT - a system of flowing electricity ELECTROLYTE - a non-metallic  electric conductor in which current is carried by the movement of ions ELECTRON - a tiny particle of matter in orbit around the nucleus of an atom, it has a negative electric charge EROSION - an eroding or wearing away of the soil by wind and water ESTUARY - the part of a river mouth within which tides have an effect and therefore where fresh and saline water are mixed EVAPORATE - to pass off in vapor in invisible minute particles EVAPORATION - the changing of water into water vapor
F FAHRENHEIT - the English method of measuring temperature, 32?F is freezing and 212?F is boiling FINE PARTICLES - very small pieces FLOW - to move FLUID - a non-solid substance that flows, any liquid or gas is a fluid; all fluids take on the shape of the container in which they are in FOG - vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower part of the atmosphere FREEZE - to change a liquid to a solid by cooling it to a low temperature FRESH - free from salt FRESH WATER - of, relating to, or living in fresh water FROST - frozen dew or vapor in the form of white crystals FROZEN - changed from a liquid to a solid because of extreme cold
G GAS - a substance that does not become a liquid or solid at ordinary temperatures GLACIER - a very slow moving river of ice  GROUNDWATER - water found below the surface of the earth
H HAIL - round, small pieces of ice that sometimes fall during a thunder storm, frozen raindrops HAZE - thin mist or water vapor in the air HEAT - a form of energy produced by movement of molecules, usually associated sunlight HELIUM - a simple chemical element, a very light gas, lighter than air, with no color or smell HIGH PRESSURE - having a pressure exceeding that of the atmosphere HOT AIR - air, whose molecules are moving fast HUMIDITY - the amount of moisture in the air HYDROELECTRIC - having to do with the production of electricity by water power HYDROGEN - a colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous element, the lightest substances known, combining with oxygen to form water HYDROGEN PEROXIDE - a liquid used to clean cuts, make up of hydrogen and oxygen HYDROLOGIC CYCLE - process involving the circulation and distribution of freshwater on the earth HYGROMETER - an instrument for measuring the amount of water vapor in the air HYDROSPHERE - the surface water that covers the earth
I ICE - frozen water INFILTRATION - the process by which water seeps into the soil ION - one of the electrically charged particles in certain substances; an atom or group of atoms that has a negative or positive electric charge IONIC - having ions IONOSPHERE - an ionized region of the upper atmosphere, able to reflect radio waves for transmission to another part of the earth IRRIGATION - to water by way of canals, ditches or pipes
J JETSTREAM - narrow current  of strong westerly winds in the upper troposphere
K KNOTS - a measure of speed used for meteorological wind and ocean speed
L LAKE - a body of water larger than a pond and too deep in parts for rooted plants to live  LIQUID - a substance like water or oil that flows freely but is not a gas  LITHOSPHERE - includes the crust and some parts of the upper mantle LOW PRESSURE - having, exerting, or operating under a relatively small pressure
M MARINE - having to do with the oceans MESOSPHERE - a region of the earths atmosphere from the top of the stratosphere to an altitude of about fifty miles METEOROLOGIST - a person who studies atmospheric conditions MILD CLIMATE - an annual mild weather condition MINERAL - an inorganic substance that occurs naturally in the earth MOIST - slightly wet, damp MOISTURE - having wetness MOLECULES - the smallest unit into which a substance can be divided without a change in its chemical nature MOUNTAINS - a mass of land that rises to a great height especially over one thousand feet
N NEUTRON - one of the tiny particles in the nucleus NIMBOSTRATUS - a low, formless and rainy layer, of a dark color  NIMBUS - a bright cloud as surrounding deities when they appear on earth NITROGEN - a colorless odorless gas forming about four-fifths of the atmosphere
O OCEAN - the sea surrounding the continents of earth OCEAN MOVEMENT - how the currents of the ocean move ODORLESS - free from odor or smell OIL - a thick slippery liquid that will not dissolve into water OIL SPILL - petroleum oil that has escaped OXYGEN - a colorless odorless tasteless gas existing in air and combining with hydrogen from water OZONE LAYER - a layer of oxygen with a sharp smell in the atmosphere
P PARTICULATE - of or relating to minute separate particulate PERIODIC TABLE - an arrangement of the elements in order of their increasing atomic numbers; they fall into nine groups which have similar chemical properties PESTICIDE - a substance for destroying harmful insects PERCOLATION - the passing of liquid through a porus solid material, other than soil, such as limestone PLASMA - state of matter, composed of ionized material POLAR EASTERLIES - the easterly wind belt found between the weak polar anticyclone and the westerly depression tracks POLLUTED - to have made dirty or impure POLLUTION - to make impure POND - a small enclosed body of water permitting the growth of rooted plants across the entire bottom PRECIPITATION - forms of water vapor that are heavy enough to fall to the earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, hail, and fog PROTON - a tiny particle in the nucleus of an atom with a positive charge
Q
R RAIN - condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling in separate drops RAIN GAUGE - instrument for measuring the amount of water vapor in the air RAINFALL - the total amount of rain falling within a given area and a given time RECYCLE - to convert into a form in which it can be reused RESERVOIR - a natural or artificial lake or pond in which water is stored for use RESOURCES - available assets RIVER - a natural stream of water larger than a creek an emptying into an ocean, lake, or another river  RUN OFF - water that flows on the surface or through the ground into streams, rivers, lakes, and ocean
S SALTWATER - relating to, living in, or consisting of saltwater SALTY - seasoned with or containing salt SATELLITE PHOTO - a photo taken from a satellite far above the atmosphere SEA - a small ocean SEA BREEZE - a cooling breeze blowing generally in the daytime inland from the sea SEASONS - a section of the year with distinct characteristics of temperature and rainfall SEDIMENTS - very fine particles of solid matter suspended in a liquid or settling to the bottom of it  SHOWERS - a brief fall of rain or snow SLEET - rain that is partly frozen  SMELLY - having a strong or unpleasant smell SNOW - crystals of ice that form from atmospheric vapor and fall in light  white flakes SOAPY - smeared with soap SODIUM - a soft silver-white metal SOLID - keeping its shape, firm, not a liquid or gas  SOLUTION - a liquid in which something is dissolved SOLVENT - able to dissolve another substance SPRING - water flowing up from the ground  STEAM - water changed into vapor by being heated to the boiling point STINKS - containing an offensive odor  STRATOCUMULUS - a layer (or patches) composed of globular masses or rolls, they are soft and gray with dark parts STRATOSPHERE - a layer of earths atmosphere between about six and fifteen miles above the earth's surface  STRATUS - a low uniform layer of cloud resembling fog but not resting on the ground, the sky may have a hazy appearance and drizzle  SUMMER - the warmest season of the year, from June to August in the northern hemisphere  SURFACE TENSION - the tension of the surface film of a liquid, tending to minimize its surface area SURFACE WATER - large bodies of water that are on the surface of the earth
T TASTELESS - having no taste TEMPERATURE - the intensity of heat or cold in a body or room or country THERMOMETER - an instrument that measures heat  THUNDERSTORM - a storm accompanied by thundering and lightning  TOPOGRAPHY - the features of a place or district, the position of its rivers, mountains, roads, and buildings TOXIC - of or caused by poison TRADEWINDS - the predominately easterly winds that blow steadily over the ocean areas TRANSPARENT - allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be seen clearly TRANSPIRATION - the breathing out of water, such as by plants, which releases water from their leaves and stems TROPICAL - of or found in or like the tropics  TROPOSPHERE - the layer of atmospheric air extending about seven miles upward from earths surface
U
V
W WARM CLIMATE - a warm regular weather condition of an area  WARM FRONT - a strong thermal gradient in the atmosphere in which, form its direction of movement, warm air is replacing cold air WATER - a colorless, odorless, tasteless liquid that is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen WATER CYCLE - the continuous movement of water from the atmosphere to the earth and from the earth to the atmosphere WATER MOVEMENT - a direction of which water flows WATER SUPPLY - source, means, or process of supplying water WATER VAPOR - tiny particles (molecules) of water found in the air WATER TABLE - the level below which the ground is saturated with water WATERWAY - a route for travel by water WEATHER - the condition of the atmosphere at a certain place or time  WEATHER MAPS - the representation of weather on a map  WESTERLY WINDS - winds blowing from the west WIND - the horizontal movement of air relative to the earth's surfaces WIND VANE - a weather instrument that measures the direction of the wind WINTER - the coldest season of the year, generally from December to March in the northern hemisphere
X
Y
Z