Weather

Air front

The boundary between two air masses of different temperatures. Air front. An air front is where warm and cold air meet, often causing changes in weather.

Air mass

A huge body of air with similar temperature and moisture throughout. Air mass. An air mass is a large region of the atmosphere where the air has similar temperature and humidity.

Anemometer

An instrument that measures wind speed. anemometer. An anemometer is a tool used to measure how fast the wind is blowing.

Anticyclone

Winds circulating against the rotation of the Earth, they have a high-pressure center. Anticyclone. An anticyclone is a weather system where winds spiral outward from a high-pressure area, often bringing clear skies.

Barometer

An instrument that measures air pressure. Barometer. A barometer is a tool used in science to measure the pressure of the air, helping predict weather changes.

Chlorofluorocarbon

A chemical that causes ozone depletion, it is also known as CFC. Chlorofluorocarbon. Chlorofluorocarbon is a man-made compound used in products like aerosols and refrigerants that can damage the Earth's ozone layer.

Climate

The average weather conditions of an area, over a long period of time, is called climate. Climate is how weather typically behaves in a region over many years.

Condensation

The process of a gas changing into a liquid is called condensation. Condensation is when water vapor in the air cools down and turns back into liquid water.

Continental climate

The climate at the center of a continent, with hot summers and cold winters. Continental climate. Continental climate involves large temperature variations between seasons because land heats and cools quickly.

Coriolis effect

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current. Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect causes moving air and water to turn and swirl due to Earth's rotation.

Cyclone

A storm of swirling air with a low-pressure center. Cyclone. A cyclone is a large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, bringing rain and winds.

Dew point

The temperature of air at which condensation begins. Dew point. The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated with moisture, causing water vapor to condense into liquid droplets.

Drought

A long period of unusually low precipitation. Drought. Drought is when an area gets much less rain than usual, causing water shortages.

El Nino

A worldwide climate change, caused by an increase in the Pacific Oceans temperature. El Nino. El Nino is a natural weather pattern where the Pacific Ocean warms near the equator, affecting global weather.

Evaporation

The top of liquid changing into a gas. Evaporation. Evaporation is the process where liquid turns into vapor and enters the air.

Global wind

A wind that blows steadily in a specific direction over long distances. Global wind. Global winds are large-scale wind patterns that move across the Earth, influencing weather and climate.

Greenhouse effect

The warming of the Earth when the atmosphere traps heat like a blanket. Greenhouse effect. It is when gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm.

Humidity

The amount of water vapor in the air. Humidity. Humidity is the measure of how much moisture or water vapor is present in the air.

Hurricane

A large tropical storm with winds of more than 74 mph. Hurricane. A hurricane is a powerful storm system that forms over warm ocean waters and brings strong winds and heavy rain.

Ice age

A long period during which ice sheets cover large parts of Earth. Ice age. An ice age is a time when global temperatures cool and large areas are covered by ice sheets.

Isobar

A line on a weather map connecting points with the same air pressure isobar. An isobar is a line on a map that shows where the air pressure is the same at different locations.

Isotherm

A line on a weather map connecting points with the same temperature. Isotherm. In science, an isotherm is a line on a map that shows areas having the same temperature at a given time.

Jet stream

A band of high-speed wind between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Jet stream. Jet streams are fast-moving air currents that flow high above the Earth and influence weather patterns.

La Nina

A worldwide climate change, caused by a decrease in the Pacific Oceans temperature. La Nina. La Nina is a natural climate pattern that results in cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather.

Latitude

The distance in degrees north or south of the equator latitude. Latitude measures how far a place is from the equator, affecting its climate and weather.

Lightning

An electric discharge caused when charges jump within a cloud, between two clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. Lightning is a sudden flash of light in the sky caused by electricity moving in the atmosphere.

Marine climate

A climate influenced by an ocean, with warm winters and cool summers. Marine climate. A marine climate is where the ocean keeps temperatures mild and steady throughout the year.

Meteorologist

A scientist who studies weather meteorologist. A meteorologist is a scientist who analyzes and forecasts the weather.

Microclimate

The climate within a small area that differs from the surrounding climate. Microclimate is a localized climate that can vary significantly from the larger area around it due to specific conditions like terrain, vegetation, or water bodies.

Monsoon

A wind that changes direction with the seasons. Monsoon. It is a seasonal weather pattern characterized by heavy rainfall and a shift in wind direction.

Polar zone

The region 66 North and South of the poles that is never warm. Polar zone. The polar zone is the icy, cold area around the North and South Poles where the sun's rays are weak, leading to low temperatures.

Precipitation

Water that falls to Earth in any form, like rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Precipitation is when water in the atmosphere falls to the ground.

Relative humidity

A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air, compared to the maximum possible at that temperature. Relative humidity. It tells us how full the air is with water vapor compared to how much it could hold at that temperature.

Season

A period of unique climate caused by the tilt of the Earth as it revolves around the Sun. Season. Seasons are the four divisions of the year marked by changes in weather and daylight, resulting from the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun.

Storm surge

A large rise in water levels caused by hurricane waves and winds. Storm surge. Storm surge is when strong winds from a storm push ocean water onto land, causing flooding.

Temperate zone

Zone of moderate climate between the tropical and polar zones. Temperate zone. The temperate zone is a region on Earth where the climate is mild and experiences four distinct seasons.

Thermometer

An instrument that measures temperature is a thermometer. A thermometer is a tool used to check how hot or cold something is.

Thunderstorm

A storm with lightning and thunder. Thunderstorm. A thunderstorm is a weather condition where rain, lightning, and thunder occur due to rapid upward movement of warm, moist air.

Tornado

A spinning funnel-shaped column of wind. Tornado. A tornado is a powerful, rotating storm that forms when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air, creating a dangerous vortex.

Tropical zone

The zone of warm climate that extends 23 north and south of the equator. Tropical zone. The tropical zone is a warm region around the equator with consistent weather, where temperatures are generally hot year-round.

Water cycle

The constant movement of water through Earth and its atmosphere, by evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Water cycle. The water cycle is the continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.

Weather

The atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place, like raining and cold. Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation, at a particular time and place.

Wind chill factor

A measure of cooling, combining temperature and wind speed. Wind chill factor. It describes how cold it feels on your skin when the wind is blowing.