a theory that relates the formation of precipitation to supercooled clouds, freezing nuclei, and the different saturation levels of ice and liquid water

thin, delicate, ice-crystal clouds often appearing as veil-like patches or thin, wispy fibers

a theory of raindrop formation in warm clouds in which large cloud droplets collide and join together with smaller droplets to form a raindrop

the change of state of matter from a gas to a liquid

tiny bits of particulate matter that serve as surfaces on which water vapor condenses

billowy individual cloud masses that often have flat bases

the process by which water vapor is changed directly to a solid without passing through the liquid state

the temperature to which an air mass has to be cooled in order to reach saturation

the rate of adiabatic cooling or warming in unsaturated air

the process of converting a liquid to a gas

the boundary between two adjoining air masses having contrasting characteristics

a general term referring to water vapor in the air

an instrument designed to measure relative humidity

the energy absorbed or released during a change of state

mountains acting as barrieres to the flow of air, forcing the air to ascend

any form of water that falls from a cloud

the ratio of the air's water vapor content to its water vapor capacity

the state of air that contains the maximum quantity of water vapor that it can hold

clouds in sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky

the conversion of a solid directly to a gas without passing through the liquid state

the condition of water droplets that remain in the liquid state at temperatures well below freezing

the condition of air that is more highly concentrated than is normally possible; refers to a relative humidity that is greater than 100 percent

condition in which temperature increases with altitude, rather than decreasing, causing the air to turn over

the rate of adiabatic temperature change in saturated air

the fraction of total radiation that is reflected back by a surface

the equinox that occurs in September in the Northern Hemisphere and in march in the Southern Hemisphere

the transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity; energy is transferred through collisions from one molecule to another

the transfer of heat by the movement of a mass or substance; can take place only in fluids

the heating of Earth's surface and atmosphere from solar radiation being absorbed and emitted by the atmosphere; mainly by water vapor and carbon dioxide

thermal energy transferred from one object to another

a line connecting points of equal temperature

the layer of the atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere and characterized by decreasing temperatures with height

a molecule of oxygen containing three oxygen atoms

the transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves

the process whereby light bounches back from an object

the redirecting of light by small particles and gas molecules in the atmosphere

the equinox that occurs in March in the Northern Hemisphere

the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, characterized by increasing temperatures with height, due to the concentration of ozone

the solstice that occurs in June in the Northern Hemispherre and December in the Southern Hemisphere

a measure of the average kinetic energy of individual atoms or molecules in a substance

the region of the atmosphere immediately above the mesosphere and characterized by increased temperatures with height due to the absorption of very short-wave energy by oxygen

the lowermost layer of the atmosphere characterized by a decrease in temperatures with height

the solstic that occurs in December in the Northern Hemisphere and June in the Southern Hemisphere

a large body of air that is characterized by similar temperatures and amounts of moisture

a front along with a cold air mass moves benath a warmer air mass

the doughnut-shaped area with very strong winds that surrounds the eye of a hurricane

a zone of scattered clouds and calm at the center of a hurricane

the boundary between two adjoining air masses having contrasting characteristics

a tropical cyclonic storm having winds over 119 km/hr

a front formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front

a situation in which the surface position of a front does not move

the abnormal rise of the sea along a shore as a result of strong winds

a storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud and always accompanied by thunder and lightning

a small, very intense cyclonic storm with exceedingly high winds, most often produced along cold fronts in conjunction with severed thunderstorms

a front along which a warm air mass moves up and over a retreating mass of cooler air

the force exerted by the weight of air

an instrument used to determine wind speed

a high-pressure center; winds blow clockwise in the northern hemisphere

an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

the apparent deflective force of Earth's rotation on free-moving objects, including the atmosphere and oceans. Deflects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere

a low-pressure center; winds blow counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere

periodic warming of the ocean in the central and northern Pacific; can cause extreme weather

swift, high-altitude winds

seasonal reversal of wind direction associated with large continents, such as Asia

winds that blow from the polar high toward teh subpolar low

the stormy frontal zone separating cold air masses of polar origin from warm air masses of tropical origin

the amount of pressure change occuring over a given distance

a wind that consistenly blows from one direction more than from another

two belts of winds that blow almost constantly from easterly directions

the dominant west to east mostion of the atmosphere that characterizes the regions on the poleward side of the subtropical highs

a climate located on the west sides of continents between 30-45 degrees latitude; the only humid climate with strong winter precipiation

the increase in average temperatures of Earth and the atmosphere

the heating of Earth's surface and atmosphere by solar radiation being absorbed and emitted by the atmosphere

a climate generally loacted on the eastern side of a contient and charcterized by hot, sultry summers and cool winters

based on the mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation

a climate found on windward coasts from latitudes 40-65 degrees and dominated by maritime air masses; winters are mild and summers are cool

the region between 66.5 degrees north and south latitudes and the poles

climate located north of the humid continental climate and south of the polar climate; characterized by bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers

region located betweeen 23.5-66.5 degrees north and south of the equator

a climate that is transitional between the wet tropics and the subtropical steppes

region between 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator; sun's rays are intense and the temperatures are always warm

a climate with high temperatures and high annual precipitation