| A | B |
|---|
| conduction | heat transferred by direct contact |
| convection | heat transfer (circulation) of heated fluids caused by density differences |
| radiation | transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves through space |
| heat | measure of the total energy of the molecules in an object |
| heat source | an object at a higher temperature FROM which heat flows |
| heat sink | an object at a lower temperature INTO which heat flows |
| calorie | unit of heat energy |
| absorption | the taking IN of energy |
| radiative balance | an equilibrium between absorbed radiant energy and radiant energy given off |
| temperature | measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in an object |
| specific heat | amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius |
| latent heat | energy absorbed or released during a change of state |
| insolation | INcoming SOLar radiaTION- energy coming in from the Sun |
| wind | the horizontal movement of air at the surface of the Earth |
| state (phase) of matter | the physical state of matter; solid, liquid or gas |
| cloud | a large mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air |
| relative humidity | ratio between the amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount the air could hold |
| dew point temperature | temperature at which the air would be saturated with moisture |
| greenhouse effect | process by which heat is trapped in the Earth's atmosphere by gases like carbon dioxide |
| psychrometer | instrument used to determine dewpoint and relative humidity |
| condensation nuclei | surfaces on which condensation occurs in the atmosphere |
| saturation | condition in which air is holding all the water vapor it can at a given temperature |
| adiabatic temperature change | change in temperature caused by expansion or compression |
| windward | side of a mountain facing the wind where air is forced to rise |
| leeward | side of a mountain opposite the wind |
| pressure gradient | the rate of change in air pressure between two points on a map |
| cyclone | a low pressure system- winds rotate counter clockwise and converge into the center |
| isobar | a line on a weather map connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure |
| airmass | a large body of air having relatively uniform conditions of temperature and pressure |
| anticyclone | a high pressure system- winds rotate clockwise and diverge away from the center |
| jet stream | fast moving winds at high altitudes- they steer surface weather patterns |
| tornado | a relatively small violent cyclone capable of causing major damage |
| hurricane | a large tropical cyclone with winds greater than 74 miles per hour |
| precipitation | water in any form falling from the sky and reaching the earth |
| isotherm | a line of equal temperature drawn on a weather map |
| storm track | the path of a cyclone, generally from west to east in the US |
| warm front | a front in which warm air is advancing |
| cold front | a front in which cold air is advancing |
| occluded front | a front which is produced when a cold front overtakes a warm front |
| stationary front | a front that is not moving |
| weather | short term condition of the atmosphere |
| probability | the likelihood of an event, usually expressed as a percent |
