Studied by 11 people
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.
Climate
Generally prevailing weather conditions of a region averaged over a at least 30 years.
Maximum-minimum thermometer
Meteorological instrument to measure maximum and minimum temperature (AKA Six's thermometer).
Temperature range
Numerical difference between the minimum and maximum values of temperature. Can be measured as diurnal or annual.
Diurnal range
Refers to difference between daily maximum and daily minimum temperatures.
Mean temperature
The average between the maximum and the minimum temperature.
Isotherms
A line on a map connecting points having the same temperature.
Precipitation
Any form of moisture which falls to the earth. This includes rain, snow, hail and sleet.
Rain gauge
Instrument used to measure precipitation.
Isohyets
A line drawn on a weather map connecting points that receive equal amounts of precipitation.
Wet bulb - dry bulb thermometer
Instrument to measure relative humidity (AKA hygrometer).
Relative humidity
The percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold at that temperature.
Dew point
Temperature at which air is saturated and condensation forms.
Air pressure
The force exerted on a surface by the air above it as gravity pulls it to Earth.
Barometer
Instrument for measuring air pressure.
Barograph
A barometer that records its readings on a moving chart.
Millibars (Mb)
The unit for air pressure.
Isobars
Lines joining places on the map that have the same air pressure.
Anemometer
Instrument for measuring wind speed.
Wind rose
Graph for displaying information on wind direction.
Prevailing wind
The dominant wind in an area.
Wind vane
Meteorological instrument to measure wind direction.
Sunshine recorder
Instrument used to record hours of sunshine.
Stevenson screen
A standard shelter for meteorological instruments.
Cumulus
Low level; puffy clouds with flat bottoms and rounded tops. These clouds don't indicate rain. Large rising clouds (cumulus congestus) may indicate an approaching storm.
Stratus
Low level; low, flat, layered clouds which often cover the sky and don't bring significant rain.
Stratocumulus
Low level; Layers of cumulus clouds.
Nimbostratus
Low level; dark stratus clouds that bring rain.
Altocumulus
Middle-layer cumulus.
Altostratus
Middle-layer stratus.
Cirrus
High level; often feather like, usually above 5,000 meters, made of ice crystals.
Cirrocumulus
High level; High, thin clouds forming ripples.
Cirrostratus
High level; thin layers of ice which usually cover the sky and form halos around the sun or moon; usually indicate increasing cloudiness.
Cumulonimbus
Large, tall clouds that bring rain; the top of anvil shaped , found from low to high.
Contrails
Thin trails of ice forming from cooled airplane exhaust.
Fog
Clouds near the surface.
Oktas
The extent of cloud cover, estimated by the eye and expressed in eighths.
Note 
Flashcard (1000)