Radience

Weather

Science

air front

the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures
air front Simple Definition

air mass

a huge body of air with similar temperature and moisture throughout
air mass Simple Definition

anemometer

an instrument that measures wind speed
anemometer Simple Definition

anticyclone

winds circulating against the rotation of the Earth, they have a high-pressure center
anticyclone Simple Definition

barometer

an instrument that measures air pressure
barometer Simple Definition

chlorofluorocarbon

a chemical that causes ozone depletion, it is also known as CFC
chlorofluorocarbon Simple Definition

climate

the average weather conditions of an area, over a long period of time
climate Simple Definition

condensation

the process of a gas changing into a liquid
condensation Simple Definition

continental climate

the climate at the center of a continent, with hot summers and cold winters
continental climate Simple Definition

coriolis effect

the effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current
coriolis effect Simple Definition

cyclone

a storm of swirling air with a low-pressure center
cyclone Simple Definition

dew point

the temperature of air at which condensation begins
dew point Simple Definition

drought

a long period of unusually low precipitation
drought Simple Definition

El Nino

a worldwide climate change, caused by an increase in the Pacific Ocean’s temperature
El Nino Simple Definition

evaporation

the top of liquid changing into a gas
evaporation Simple Definition

global wind

a wind that blows steadily in a specific direction over long distances
global wind Simple Definition

greenhouse effect

the warming of the Earth when the atmosphere traps heat like a blanket
greenhouse effect Simple Definition

humidity

the amount of water vapor in the air
humidity Simple Definition

hurricane

a large tropical storm with winds of more than 74 mph
hurricane Simple Definition

ice age

a long period during which ice sheets cover large parts of Earth
ice age Simple Definition

isobar

a line on a weather map connecting points with the same air pressure
isobar Simple Definition

isotherm

a line on a weather map connecting points with the same temperature
isotherm Simple Definition

jet stream

a band of high-speed wind between the troposphere and the stratosphere
jet stream Simple Definition

La Nina

a worldwide climate change, caused by a decrease in the Pacific Ocean’s temperature
La Nina Simple Definition

latitude

the distance in degrees north or south of the equator
latitude Simple Definition

lightning

an electric discharge caused when charges jump within a cloud, between two clouds, or between a cloud and the ground
lightning Simple Definition

marine climate

a climate influenced by an ocean, with warm winters and cool summers
marine climate Simple Definition

meteorologist

a scientist who studies weather
meteorologist Simple Definition

microclimate

the climate within a small area that differs from the surrounding climate
microclimate Simple Definition

monsoon

a wind that changes direction with the seasons
monsoon Simple Definition

polar zone

the region 66° North and South of the poles that is never warm
polar zone Simple Definition

precipitation

water that falls to Earth in any form, like rain, snow, sleet, or hail
precipitation Simple Definition

relative humidity

a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air, compared to the maximum possible at that temperature
relative humidity Simple Definition

season

a period of unique climate caused by the tilt of the Earth as it revolves around the Sun
season Simple Definition

storm surge

a large rise in water levels caused by hurricane waves and winds
storm surge Simple Definition

temperate zone

zone of moderate climate between the tropical and polar zones
temperate zone Simple Definition

thermometer

an instrument that measures temperature
thermometer Simple Definition

thunderstorm

a storm with lightning and thunder
thunderstorm Simple Definition

tornado

a spinning funnel-shaped column of wind
tornado Simple Definition

tropical zone

the zone of warm climate that extends 23º north and south of the equator
tropical zone Simple Definition

water cycle

the constant movement of water through Earth and its atmosphere, by evaporation, condensation and precipitation
water cycle Simple Definition

weather

the atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place, like raining and cold
weather Simple Definition

wind chill factor

a measure of cooling, combining temperature and wind speed
wind chill factor Simple Definition

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