Vocab Flashcards
Air pressure
noun. The definition of air pressure is the force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air.
Tropical
resembling the tropics, especially in being very hot and humid.
Celsius
of or denoting a scale of temperature on which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under standard conditions.
Cumulus Cloud
Cumulus clouds are clouds which have flat bases and are often described as “puffy”, “cotton-like” or “fluffy” in appearance. Their name derives from the Latin cumulo-, meaning heap or pile. … Cumulus clouds may appear by themselves, in lines, or in clusters.
Cirrus Cloud
Cirrus (cloud classification symbol: Ci) is a genus of atmospheric cloud generally characterized by thin, wispy strands, giving the type its name from the Latin word cirrus, meaning a ringlet or curling lock of hair.
Thermometer (weather definition)
Weather Instruments. A THERMOMETER measures the air temperature. Most thermometers are closed glass tubes containing liquids such as alcohol or mercury. When air around the tube heats the liquid, the liquid expands and moves up the tube. A scale then shows what the actual temperature is.
Tropical Depression
A tropical depression forms when a low pressure area is accompanied by thunderstorms that produce a circular wind flow with maximum sustained winds below 39 mph. An upgrade to a tropical storm occurs when cyclonic circulation becomes more organized and maximum sustained winds gust between 39 mph and 73 mph.
Ocean Current
DescriptionAn ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of sea water generated by a number of forces acting upon the water, including wind, the Coriolis effect, breaking waves, cabbeling, and temperature and salinity differences.
Dew Point
the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form.
Hurricane
a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.
Desert
abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
Typhoon
a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.
Humidity
a quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or in a gas.
Forecast
predict or estimate (a future event or trend).
Atmosphere
the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
Hail
pellets of frozen rain which fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.
Thunderstorm
a storm with thunder and lightning and typically also heavy rain or hail.
Cloud
a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground.
Precipitation
the action or process of precipitating a substance from a solution.
Drought
a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.
Front
the side or part of an object that presents itself to view or that is normally seen or used first; the most forward part of something.
Meteorology
the branch of science concerned with the processes and phenomena of the atmosphere, especially as a means of forecasting the weather.
Freezing Point
the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled.
Tornado
a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system.
Cumulonimbus Cloud
Cumulonimbus (from Latin cumulus, “heaped” and nimbus, “rainstorm”) is a dense, towering vertical cloud, forming from water vapor carried by powerful upward air currents. … These clouds are capable of producing lightning and other dangerous severe weather, such as tornadoes.
Thunder
a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash due to the expansion of rapidly heated air.
Weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
Waterspout
a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea or other body of water.
Barometer
an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.
Global Warming
a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.
Temperature
the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object, especially as expressed according to a comparative scale and shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch.
Barometric Pressure
A barometer measures air pressure: A “rising” barometer indicates increasing air pressure.
Funnel Cloud
a rotating funnel-shaped cloud forming the core of a tornado or waterspout.
Climate
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
