absorption: the process of a substance taking light energy and transforming it into heat
alto: middle layer of clouds in the atmosphere
anemometer: a device for measuring wind speed
atmosphere: the layer of air above Earth
axis: the line around which Earth rotates
barometer: a device that measure air pressure
cirrus: thin wispy clouds
cloud: liquid droplets or frozen crystals of water floating in the atmosphere
cold front: the front edge of a cold area of air that is moving into a warmer area of air
condensation: the process of water vapour changing into a liquid
cumulus: puffy-type clouds
degrees Celsius: unit of measurement for temperature
density: the weight of a substance per unit of volume
dew: water droplets that condense on surfaces in the morning or evening
dew point: the temperature at which water vapour turns to liquid water
Doppler radar: a device that can beam a signal into clouds and obtain information on wind speed and precipitation
downdraft: a rapid downward movement of air
equator: an imaginary line that divides Earth into North and South hemispheres
evaporation: the process of liquid water changing into water vapour
fog: a cloud that forms at ground level
frostbite: the freezing of human tissue due to exposure to cold
hail: precipitation that is pieces of ice, usually small
heat: energy that is transferred from one place to another
heat capacity: the amount of heat needed to change a substance's temperature
high pressure area: an area of air where the pressure is higher than the surroundings
humidity: the amount of water vapour in the air
hypothermia: the dropping of the temperature of the body to seriously low levels
jet stream: fast flowing streams of air that travel in the atmosphere
low pressure area: an area of air where the pressure is lower than the surroundings
meteorologist: a scientist who studies the atmosphere
microburst: a narrow column of rapid downdraft air
nimbus: a cloud that produces precipitation
northern hemisphere: the northern half of planet Earth
precipitation: hail, snow, sleet, or hail
rain: liquid water precipitation
rain gauge: an instrument for measuring the amount of rain that falls
reflection: the bouncing of light energy off a substance
satellite: an object in orbit above Earth
sleet: precipitation that is a combination of snow and rain
snow: precipitation that is ice crystals
southern hemisphere: the southern half of planet Earth
stratus: flat, hazy, featureless clouds
temperature: the quantity of energy of a substance
thermometer: a device for measuring temperature
thunderstorm: a storm from cumulonimbus clouds that can produce strong winds and heavy precipitation
tornado: violent, dangerous, rotating column of air
updraft: a rapid movement of air upward
warm front: the front edge of a warm area of air that is moving into a cooler area of air
water vapour: the gas form of water
weather: the state of the atmosphere
weather balloon: a balloon that carries weather measuring instruments high into the atmosphere
weather forecast: a prediction about the state of the atmosphere
weather vane: a device for measuring the direction of air
wind: the flow of air in the atmosphere
wind chill: the feel of the air temperature on skin