|
There are lots of weather
words that you will come across when learning about the weather.
Some of these words and their meanings are listed below. Can
you think of any other weather words? You could make your own
dictionary of weather words and their meanings.
Select a letter to learn some new words.
A
Air mass
An area where the temperature and moisture in the air is very
similar. Air masses are separated by fronts.
Air pressure
The weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the Earth's
surface.
Anemometer
An instrument used for measuring wind speed.
Anticyclone
Also known as 'high pressure'. This weather systems bring settled
weather.
Atmosphere
Layers of gases surrounding the earth. Weather forms in
the lowest levels of the atmosphere.
back to top
B
Barometer
An instrument used for measuring air pressure.
Beaufort scale
A scale used for estimating wind speeds from movements of trees
etc., e.g. calm, gale, storm. It is also used in the shipping
forecast.
back to top
C
Celsius
A scale for measuring temperature.
Climate
The average weather conditions over a long period of time.
Cloud
Water droplets or ice crystals that form in the air.
Cold front
The boundary between a warm and a cold air mass. Often brings
cold, showery weather.
Condensation
The process in which water vapour changes into a liquid. This
is how clouds form.
back to top
D
Depression
Also known as 'low pressure', this weather system often brings
windy, wet weather.
Dew point
The temperature at which condensation occurs.
Drizzle
A very fine form of light rain.
Drought
A long period without rainfall.
E
Evaporation
The process in which water changes back to a gas. The opposite
of condensation, this is how puddles dry in the sun.
back to top
F
Fog
This is when clouds come down to the ground. The many water
droplets mean you cannot see very far.
Front
A boundary between two different air masses.
Frost
When the temperature falls below freezing (0 degrees Celsius).
G
Gust
A very sudden, short increase in wind speed.
back to top
H
Hail
Small balls of ice formed when they are thrown around in
thunderstorm clouds.
Humidity
The amount of water held in the air.
Hurricane
A tropical swirling storm, bringing very strong winds and very
heavy rainfall. They normally form in the Caribbean.
I
Isobars
These are lines on a weather map which join areas of equal
pressure.
back to top
L
Lightning
The spark which occurs when electricity passes from cloud
to cloud or from cloud to ground.
M
Maximum temperature
The highest temperature recorded on a particular day.
Meteorologist
A scientist who studies the weather.
Minimum temperature
The lowest temperature recorded on a particular day.
Mist
A thin form of fog.
back to top
O
Okta
A scale for measuring cloud amount. One okta = one eighth of
the sky covered by cloud.
P
Precipitation
Anything which falls from clouds, e.g. rain, drizzle, hail or
snow.
back to top
R
Rainbow
An arch of coloured bands of light, formed by sunlight shining
through raindrops.
Radiosonde
A box of weather instruments attached to a weather balloon
which takes measurements through the atmosphere.
Rain gauge
An instrument for measuring rainfall.
back to top
S
Seasons
Patterns of weather that occur at different times of year.
Shower
A short period of rain, normally less than 30 minutes.
Sleet
Partly melted falling snow.
Snow
Ice crystals falling from cloud.
Stevenson screen
A white box used to protect weather instruments from the weather.
back to top
T
Temperature
A measure of how hot or cold something is.
Thermometer
An instrument used for measuring temperature.
Thunder
The sound heard shortly after a flash of lightning, caused
by the lightning quickly heating the air.
Thunderstorm
A storm with thunder and lightning.
Transpiration
The process by which moisture is released from plants and
trees.
back to top
W
Warm front
The boundary between a cold and a warm air mass, often bringing
warm, wet weather.
Water cycle
The way in which water moves between the Earth and the atmosphere.
Water on Earth evaporates, forms clouds and returns the
water to the Earth as rain.
Wind
The flow of air over the Earth's surface.
Wind vane
An instrument used for measuring wind direction.
back to top
|
