Weather Vocabulary
Word Definition Image
wind the perceptible natural movement of
the air, especially in the form of a
current of air blowing from a particular
direction
anemometer an instrument for measuring the speed
of the wind, or of any current of gas
atmospheric pressure the pressure exerted by the weight of
the atmosphere
density Density is a measure of mass per
unit of volume
sea level the level of the sea's surface, used in
reckoning the height of geographical
features like as hills
barometer an instrument measuring atmospheric
pressure, used especially in forecasting
the weather and determining altitude.
convection cell a convection cell is a system in
which a fluid is warmed, loses
density and is forced into a region of
greater density
prototype A prototype is an early sample,
model, or release of a product built
to test a concept or process or to
act as a thing to be replicated or
learned from
dew point the temperature at which air is
saturated with water vapor
dew water droplets that form on surfaces
due to condensation of water vapor
water cycle the movement of water through the
earth system
ground water water located underground that fills
pore spaces in soil and rock layers
transpiration the evaporation of water from the
leaves
evaporation the process of turning from liquid into
vapor
absolute humidity Absolute humidity is the measure of
water vapor (moisture) in the air,
regardless of temperature, it is
expressed as grams of moisture per
cubic meter of air (g/m3)
relative humidity the amount of water vapor present in air
expressed as a percentage of the
amount needed for saturation at the
same temperature.
crystallization Crystallization is the solidification of
atoms or molecules into a highly
structured form called a crystal.
precipitation rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the
ground
stationary front a front between warm and cold air
masses that is moving very slowly or
not at all
warm front a transition zone between a mass of
warm air and the colder air it is
replacing
occluded front a composite front formed when a cold
front overtakes a warm front and
forces it aloft.
cold front the zone separating two air masses,
of which the cooler, denser mass is
advancing and replacing the warmer
weather front an air mass is a large body of air that
has similar moisture and temperature
characteristics
air mass a body of air with horizontally uniform
temperature, humidity, and pressure
Low pressure system low pressure system has lower
pressure at its center than the areas
around it. Winds blow towards the
low pressure, and the air rises in the
atmosphere where they meet. As
the air rises, the water vapor within it
condenses forming clouds and
often precipitation too
High pressure a condition of the atmosphere in which
system the pressure is above average
isobar An isogram connecting points having
equal barometric pressure at a given
time
severe thunderstorm severe thunderstorm is a storm that has
winds of 58 MPH or greater, hail one
inch in diameter or larger
severe weather Any storm that is really destructive and
intense
blizzard heavy snow, ice, cold temperatures
Heat index a measure indicating the level of
discomfort the average person is
thought to experience as a result of the
combined effects of the temperature
and humidity of the air
Heat wave a heat wave is a period of unusually hot
weather that typically lasts two or more
days
tornado clouds, strong wind, rain, hail
hurricane strong wind, heavy rain
