Temperature and Heating

Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Is the lowest part of the atmosphere and its behavior is directly influenced by its contact with a planetary surface.

Surface Temperature

How hot the “surface” of the Earth would feel to the touch in a particular location.

Sensible Heat Flux

The transfer of heat caused by the difference in temperature between the sea and the air.

Latent Heat Flux

The flux of heat from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere that is associated with evaporation of water at the surface and subsequent condensation of water vapor in the troposphere.

Specific Heat

The heat capacity of a sample of the substance divided by the mass of the sample.

Urban Heat Island

Occur when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.

Free Atmosphere

The portion of the earth's atmosphere, above the planetary boundary layer, in which the effect of surface friction on air motion is negligible, and in which the air behaves like an ideal fluid.

Stevenson Screen

A shelter or an enclosure to  meteorological instruments against precipitation and direct heat radiation from outside sources, while still allowing air to circulate freely around them.

Sun Angle

The angle at which the sun strikes the Earth.

Obliquity

Is the angle between an object's rotational axis and its orbital axis, which is the line perpendicular to its orbital plane.

Temperature Cycle

The process of cycling through two temperature extremes, typically at relatively high rates of change

Diurnal

Means “occurring every day”.