| A | B |
|---|
| extreme weather | a term that refers to severe or unusual weather conditions |
| natural disaster | this is when great damage or loss of life occurs in an extreme weather event |
| meteorology | the scientific study of climate and weather patterns |
| tropical cyclone | a severe storm with high winds that spiral around a calm center. Depending on where they form, these are called hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones |
| atmosphere | the layer of air that surrounds the Earth |
| convection | the movement, or transfer of heat through a gas or liquid |
| current | the steady movement of air or water due to convection |
| prevailing winds | winds that usually blow in a certain direction |
| El Niño | a warm ocean current that flows off the west coast of South America every few years |
| condense | to lose heat from a vapor or gas into a liquid |
| tropical disturbance | a cluster of thunderstorms near the equator |
| tropical depression | a storm near the equator with winds moving in a circle at speeds up to 38 mph |
| tropical storm | a storm near the equator with winds moving in circles at speeds up to 39-73 mph |
| eye | the calm area at the center of a hurricane or other tropical cyclone |
| eye wall | the ring of thunderstorms that surrounds the eye or center of a hurricane or other tropical cyclone |
| rainbands | a band of dense clouds that swirls around the eye wall of a hurricane |
| storm surge | wall of water that is pushed ashore by a storm |
| landmass | a very large, unbroken area of land |
