Weather and Climate

Polar

the region between 66.5 degrees north and south latitudes and the poles; cool summers and extremely cold winters; low rainfall

Example.

Antarctica

Thunderstorm

Cloudy, rainy conditions with high winds, thunder and lightning.

Anemometer

tool used to measure wind speed

Cold Fronts

boundaries of an advancing mass of cold air; signified on a weather map by a blue line with blue triangles

Latitude

The horizontal lines of the grid system that measure distance above and below the Equator

Sleet

Partially solid water that falls to the earth as water and ice pellets.

Synoptic Chart

a weather map which includes pressure patterns, fronts, wind direction, and speed

Humidity

a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air

Temperate Zones

The areas between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn(23.5 degrees N and S) and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles (66.5 degrees N and S)

Example.

Pampas

Stationary Fronts

Fronts that forms when a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet; brings lingering precipitation

Thermometer

tool used to measure temperature; measures in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius

Example.

"Room temperature" is 20 degrees Celsius

Tropics

the region between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude); warm temperatures; high rainfall

Example.

Amazon Rainforest

Rain Shadow Effect

the phenomenon in which desert-like conditions appear on the leeward side of a mountain or mountain range.

Example.

Death Valley

Cumulonimbus Clouds

multi-level clouds; impressive, towering appearance; indicate thunderstorms and severe weather

Equator

The center line of latitude around the middle of the Earth that divides the globe into a Northern and Southern hemisphere

Tsunami

An energetic ocean wave in deep water caused by an underwater earthquake, its height increasing as it approaches land. 

Wind Sock

tool used to determine the direction of the wind

Rain Gauge

tool used to collect rainfall and measure the amount of precipitation within a certain timeframe;

Computer Forecast Models

a weather model, usually in text or map format, which uses data collected from weather balloons, satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations around the world to determine the likelihood of thunderstorm conditions developing

Example.

Global Forecast Model

Warm Fronts

boundaries of an advancing mass of warm air; signified on a weather map by a red line with red semicircles

Climate

a measure of an area's long-term weather patterns

Example.

average temperature range in the Amazon Rainforest is 64 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit

Windward Side

the side of a mountain facing the incoming wind

Isobars

Term definition.

lines on a weather map connecting two areas of similar barometric pressure

Levee

A wall that keeps water from flooding an area; often built of rock, dirt or sand.

Troughs (on a Weather Map)

areas where air is turbulent and unstable; signified on a weather map by a black line

Hail

large chunks of ice that fall to the earth during severe weather

Weather Radar

tool used to determine the amount and type of precipitation over a certain area using radio waves

Hygrometer / Psychrometer

tool used to measure humidity in the air

Orographic Lift

A redirection of wind when it is forced upward to travel over the top of the mountain and then down the other side

Specific Heat Capacity

the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 mass unit of the material by 1 degree

Example.

water has a specific heat capacity of 1 calorie per gram

Air Pressure / Atmospheric Pressure

the force exerted on an area due to the weight of the air in the atmosphere above

Leeward Side

the side of the mountain facing opposite from the incoming wind

Occluded Fronts

When a warm air mass gets stuck between two cold air masses and lifted away from the Earth's surface. Causes dropping temperatures and rain; signified on a weather map by purple lines with purple triangles and semicircles next to each other.

Snow

Solid water crystals that fall to the earth as snowflakes.

Weather Balloon

tool used to collect atmospheric data from a point high above the ground; the balloon is filled with helium or hydrogen and carries an attached probe into the atmosphere until the balloon bursts, dropping the probe

Blizzard

Heavily falling or blowing snow that causes snowdrifts and makes it difficult to see.

Volcanic Winter

a period of time in which global temperatures are lowered due to a severe volcanic eruption spewing ash and other products into the atmosphere; these products block some of the sun's rays from reaching Earth's surface and consequently lower temperatures

Lightning

a huge electrical spark within clouds, between clouds, or between the ground and clouds

Ensemble Forecast Models

a weather model which uses several models at one time in order to determine the models’ validity; if all the models predict the same weather conditions, they are likely correct

Example.

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts uses Ensemble forecasting

Barometer

tool used to measure atmospheric pressure

higher pressure indicates lower temperatures and less precipitation

measures in atmospheres (atm) or millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)

Example.

Wildfire

An uncontrolled fire that destroys plants, animals, and habitats over a large region.

Hurricane

A huge rotating storm system that forms over warm ocean water, causing severe wind, rain, storm surges and tornadoes when it reaches land.

Tornado

Rotating air from a thunderstorm that produces high wind speeds; typically lasting only 5 - 10 minutes.

Coriolis Effect

A curving of the flow of wind or water caused by Earth's rotation; to the right in the northern hemisphere, to the left in the southern hemisphere.

Weather

a measure of an area's short-term atmospheric conditions

Example.

70% chance of rain with a high of 80 degrees today

Artificial Satellites

devices in Earth's orbit which collect weather data and allow scientists to quickly monitor atmospheric conditions

Example.

weather satelite