Weather: Glossary

A

air pressure

the pressure formed from the weight of the atmosphere pushing down on everything

anemometer

meteorologist tool that measures wind

atmosphere

the layers of air around the earth

B

Beaufort Scale

a scale used to identify wind strength

barometer

meteorologist tool that measures air pressure

blizzard

intense snow storm that includes strong winds

C

cirrus

wispy cloud formation

clouds

water vapor that condenses in the sky

cumulonimbus

a towering vertical cloud which usually results in a thunderstorm

cumulus

puffy cloud formation with defined edges

F

floods

the result of too much rain or other moisture - may cover large areas and grow in depth to cover over buildings, street signs, and other normally dry structures

H

hail

lumps or balls of frozen precipitation

humidity

moisture in the atmosphere

hurricane

severe and large storm that forms over the ocean

L

lightning

static electrical charge that moves between clouds and the ground

M

meteorologist

scientist that studies weather

meteorology

the science of weather

microburst

a small, very intense downdraft that descends to the ground

monsoon

seasonal period of heavy rain

R

radar

radio waves are used to determine size, direction and intensity of storms

rain gauge

meteorologist tool that measures the amount of rainfall

S

satellite

equipment which orbits the earth to make measurements of the weather

solar radiation

energy emitted from the sun

stratus

cloud formation that blanket the sky and are low to the ground

T

temperature

a measure of how hot or cold the air is

thermometer

meteorologist tool that measures temperature

thunderstorm

violent weather event that includes rain, thunder, lightning and wind

tornadoes

a strong spinning wind that can be very destructive

troposphere

lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather takes place

W

weather balloon

meteorologist tool that measures weather conditions by use of a balloon that floats up in the air

wind

strong movement of the earth's atmosphere brought on by temperature differences