Meteorology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms in meteorology.

Cumulus

Large, fluffy clouds, often associated with fair weather.

Lightning

A flash of light caused by an electrical discharge in the atmosphere.

Hurricane

A strong tropical storm with high winds and heavy rain.

Stationary Front

A weather front where warm and cold air meet but don't move.

Storm Surge

A rise in sea level caused by a storm, leading to flooding.

Cyclone

A rotating storm system, often with strong winds and rain.

Eye

The calm center of a hurricane, surrounded by the eye wall.

Mature

The stage in a storm when it is fully developed and at its strongest.

Thunderstorm

A storm with lightning, thunder, and heavy rain.

Polar Air Mass

Cold air that forms near the poles and moves toward the equator.

Stratosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, where the ozone layer is located.

Occluded Front

A weather front where a cold front overtakes a warm front.

Thermosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere, where the air is thin and hot.

Maritime

Air masses that form over the ocean, usually moist.

Eye Wall

The area of intense winds and rain surrounding the eye of a storm.

Anticyclone

A high-pressure system where air moves outward, usually bringing clear skies.

Arctic Air Mass

Extremely cold air mass that forms near the North Pole.

Continental

Air masses that form over land, usually dry.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather happens.

Tornado

A violent, rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.

Warm Front

A boundary where warm air moves over cooler air.

Cold Front

A boundary where cold air moves into warmer air.

Tropical Air Mass

Warm, moist air that forms over the tropics.

Flood

Overflow of water that submerges land, often due to heavy rain or melting snow.

Mesosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, where meteors burn up.

Dissipating

The stage in a storm when it weakens and loses strength.