Weather Glossary

The measure of the water vapor or moisture content in the air, expressed as the mass of water vapor per unit volume of air....

Cloud or rain droplets containing pollutants, such as oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, to make them acidic.

A fixed potential temperature line on adiabats, or the process of thermodynamic changes within a system without any exchange...

Thermodynamic changes occurring within a system without any exchange of heat with the surroundings. In the atmosphere, changes...

The decrease in temperature with height in an adiabatically rising air parcel (lapse rate). For dry air, this value is 1...

The expected rate of temperature decrease in an adiabatically rising air parcel when there is no heat exchange with the environment....

A thermodynamic change process in the system without any exchange of heat or transfer of energy between systems. This process...

The horizontal transport of any feature within the atmosphere due to the movement of air (wind). This includes phenomena...

The formation of fog when warm and moist air passes over a cool or cold surface or, conversely, when cold air passes over...

The occurrence of storms resulting from the horizontal advection of cold air at high levels or the horizontal advection of...

Particles such as pollen, grass seeds, or dust in the air that cause allergies and are transported by winds.

The branch of science dealing with the laws of motion of air or other gases.

A large body of air having similar horizontal temperature and moisture characteristics.

The reflectance rate of a surface, indicating the amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the surface. It depends...

A prefix used in cloud nomenclature to describe middle-altitude clouds that form between 6,500 and 20,000 feet, such as altostratus...

A middle cloud type within the B family in the international cloud classification. These are shaded clouds that can be white...

A middle cloud type within the B family in the international cloud classification. These clouds consist of water droplets...

Local winds that blow from slopes to peaks as a result of the heating of the top slopes without being affected by general...

An instrument used to measure the speed, force, and sometimes the direction of the wind. It can be cup or pressure tube anemometers....

A deviation from the normal or expected value in atmospheric or climatic conditions, often used in meteorology to identify...

Anticyclones are areas of high atmospheric pressure that bring hot, dry weather in the summer and cold fronts in the winter.

An anvil is a cloud mostly composed of ice particles. Otherwise known as a cumulonimbus cloud, an anvil has reached the stratospheric...

A mass of very cold, dry air that mostly originates over the Arctic Ocean.

A very cold high pressure that originates over the Arctic Ocean.

The mass of air surrounding the earth and bound to it more or less permanently by the earth's gravitational attraction.

A long, narrow region in the atmosphere that transport water vapor, like a river in the sky.

A sudden and rapid flow of snow masses accumulated on the slopes of mountainous areas under the influence of gravity or a...

The heating of the Earth by the sun causes daily changes in both the direction and speed of the wind. During the day, ground...

Ball lightning appears during thunderstorms, taking the shape of glowing, electric orbs in the sky. It can appear in a variety...

A condition in which the stratification of the atmosphere depends on both air temperature and pressure, and where surfaces...

An instrument that continuously records atmospheric pressure over time. It uses a barometer to measure pressure and creates...

An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure.

The situation where there is no advection because the constant pressure surfaces and temperature surfaces in the atmosphere...

A measurement determined by the wave lengths and sea conditions caused by the effect of wind, and by the movement of tree...

A scale for estimating wind speed based on observed conditions of the sea or land. It ranges from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane)...

Ice forms on the surface of highways in a very thin layer that is difficult to distinguish from the color of the asphalt...

A body that has the property of absorbing all electromagnetic radiation falling on it, and therefore is the theoretical body...

A blizzard is a storm that lasts 3 hours or more, with persistent winds/frequent gusts of 35 mph or more along with significant...

Occurs when centers of high pressure and/or low pressure set up over a region in such a way that they prevent other weather...

Air laden with sand and dust, common in areas devoid of permanent vegetation, especially deserts.

Snow that rises to 8 feet or higher.

A bomb cyclone is a large mid-latitude storm that forms when a storm’s central pressure drops (i.e. “bombs out”), resulting...

An image on the weather radar that is convex to the direction of movement and resembles an arc shape, caused by mesoscale...

Although it is also used for light winds, it is the general name given to the daily cyclical winds that occur mostly between...

A cloud of irregular appearance, composed of irregular cloud fragments.

The names given to the winds blowing from the four cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west - N, E, S, W) on a compass.

The lowest level of a given cloud or cloud layer in the atmosphere, relative to the observer's position above the ground.

Temperature scale, abbreviated as °C, found by accepting the freezing point of water at one atmospheric pressure as zero...

The large-scale movement of air that distributes heat and moisture around the Earth, influencing weather patterns and climatic...

A type of cloud consisting mostly of small particles such as ice particles.

A thin, white cloud layer that is intertwined or separate, arranged in regular order, and does not cast a shadow.

A cloud that develops from Cirrus, completely or partially covering the sky, creating a halo effect, thin, sheet-like, milky...

Observation of the sky from the observer's location where there are no clouds, and there is no obstruction to visibility....

The term used for turbulence occurring in the absence of clouds or cloud-like elements in the visible area. It is often observed...

The scientific study of climate, focusing on the analysis of long-term weather patterns and trends over time.

A closed low, also known as a cut-off low, is a low-pressure system that is entirely isolated from the main atmospheric circulation...

Cloud condensation nuclei are tiny particles in the atmosphere, such as dust, salt, or pollutants, that provide surfaces...

The term 'cloudy' refers to weather conditions characterized by a significant amount of cloud cover in the sky. This may...

Coastal flooding occurs when water from the ocean, sea, or large lakes inundates land areas along the coast, usually due...

A cold core high is a high-pressure system with cold air at its center. These systems are typically associated with clear...

A cold core low is a low-pressure system where the coldest temperatures are found near the center. These systems are often...

A cold front is the leading edge of a cold air mass that replaces a warmer air mass. It is typically associated with sudden...

Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air cools and changes into liquid water. This process is crucial...

Condensation pressure deficit refers to the difference between the actual vapor pressure and the saturation vapor pressure...

Conduction is the transfer of heat or electricity through a material without the material itself moving. This occurs when...

Confluence refers to the area where two or more air streams or bodies of water meet and combine. In meteorology, it often...

CONQ is a meteorological abbreviation for significant convection observed in a specific area, often indicating unstable atmospheric...

Considerable cloudiness refers to weather conditions where a large portion of the sky is covered with clouds, but some clear...

A continental air mass is a large body of air that forms over land, characterized by dry conditions due to the lack of moisture...

Convection is the vertical movement of air caused by temperature differences, where warm air rises and cool air sinks. It...

Bright and dark rays with changing colors and contrast in the sky. These rays become visible due to the reflection of atmospheric...

A towering cloud that often reaches great altitudes and is associated with thunderstorms, heavy rain, and sometimes severe...

Large, fluffy white clouds with flat bases, typically indicating fair weather, though they can develop into storm clouds...

The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and water vapor begins to condense into liquid form, leading...

A strong, downward wind caused by a localized column of air sinking rapidly, often resulting in damage similar to that caused...

A periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, significantly influencing global...

Indicates the amount of water the soil can absorb/retain through percolation. This capacity is around 7% in sandy soil and...

The amount of radiation, heat, or light passing through or flowing from a unit area of a surface.

A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere near the Earth's surface, significantly reducing visibility.

The formation of ice crystals on surfaces when the temperature drops below freezing, typically overnight, causing potential...

Frozen drizzle is a dangerous type of frozen rain. It’s a light rain that falls in very fine drops, which freezes on contact...

A strong wind typically ranging from 34 to 40 knots (39 to 46 miles per hour) and often associated with rough seas and stormy...

The trapping of heat in the Earth's atmosphere due to greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which allows...

Precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps of ice that form in thunderstorm updrafts and fall to the ground.

A measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the actual air temperature, often referred to as the...

The amount of water vapor present in the air, which can affect comfort levels and weather conditions.

A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, characterized by a central eye, strong winds, and...

A line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure, used to identify high and low-pressure systems.

A narrow band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere, typically flowing from west to east and influencing weather patterns.

Jet streams are strong, fast-flowing air currents in the upper levels of the atmosphere. They form when warm air masses meet...

A drainage wind that flows downhill due to gravity, often associated with cold air descending from elevated regions.

Perhaps you have come across them, maybe you are seeing them for the first time. These clouds, known as wave clouds, resemble...

Kesilmiş alçak basınç sistemi, ana atmosferik dolaşım sistemlerinden tamamen izole olmuş bir alçak basınç sistemidir....

A periodic cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often leading to altered global...

A sudden electrostatic discharge during a thunderstorm between electrically charged regions of a cloud, between clouds, or...

A term used to identify clouds with a base height below 6,000 feet in the observer's direction. Stratiform clouds consist...

A low-pressure area with converging winds, rotating counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern...

In a severe storm, with a swirling motion in its left rear quadrant, a vertically rotating column of air, often seen with...

A small, intense downdraft that produces damaging winds at the surface, typically lasting a few minutes and often associated...

Nimbostratus clouds are thick, dark, gray clouds associated with rainy and gloomy days that block the Sun. These clouds,...

Nor'easter is a meteorological event commonly observed in the Northeastern United States and typically occurs during the...

A weather front formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air off the ground and resulting in a mix...

The upward movement of air caused by a topographic barrier, such as a mountain, which can lead to cloud formation and precipitation.

A polar vortex is a circulating mass of air in the atmosphere, typically found in polar regions. This rotating air mass occurs...

Any form of water - liquid or solid - that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, including rain, snow, sleet,...

The percentage of water vapor in the air relative to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature.

The state of the atmosphere when it contains the maximum amount of water vapor possible at a given temperature and pressure.

Güneş ışığının geçmesine izin verip ısının atmosferden kaçmasını engelleyen karbondioksit ve metan gibi sera...

A line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front, often producing strong winds and heavy rain.

A weather front where two air masses meet but neither is strong enough to move the other, often resulting in prolonged periods...

A type of low-altitude cloud that forms in uniform layers, often covering the entire sky and producing overcast conditions.

The process by which a solid changes directly into a gas without first becoming a liquid, such as ice turning into water...

The belt between 50-70 ° N and S latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, adjacent to the Polar Region. Although...

The narrow region between 35-40 ° N and S latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, lying between the tropical...

The term used for semi-stationary high-pressure centers such as the Azores and North Pacific Highs, which occur in the narrow...

The jet stream forming the boundary between tropical air and sub-tropical air, characterized by isothermal compression and...

A large, organized thunderstorm with a rotating updraft, often producing severe weather such as tornadoes, hail, and heavy...

A distinct layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth, separating warmer surface water from...

A storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder.

A rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of causing significant damage.

A tropical cyclone, also called a hurricane, is a severe tropical storm with wind speeds in excess of 74 mph. Known as a...

An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with unsettled weather conditions like storms...

A weather warning means that a weather hazard is occurring, imminent, or likely. In other words, severe weather is happening...

Weather is the day-to-day meteorological conditions that happen in our atmosphere. Weather can change within minutes, which...

Weather conditions are the components that comprise the state of the atmosphere. The six main weather conditions are temperature,...

Weather intelligence is technology that provides predictive and actionable insights, allowing businesses to adapt to weather-related...

A weather system refers to the movement of warm and cold air across the globe, usually in a recurring pattern. Systems can...

A weather watch means there is a risk of weather hazards in the near future, which could pose a threat to life/property....