Freezing rain, sleet, snow. What is the difference? We have all heard the
terms but what do they mean? I have designed this section for people like
you that don't know what their talking about when they say El Nino. Hopefully
I have provided you with some helpful info that will help you understand the
world around you a little better.
Atmosphere
The envelope of air surrounding the planet earth. The atmosphere extends
from the ground to about 180 miles above the planet.
Atmospheric models
Simulation of the atmosphere's behavior by mathematical equations or by
physical models.
Ceiling
The height of the lowest layer of clouds.
Climate
The average of daily and seasonal weather over a long period of time, often 30
years
Cold Front
The leading edge of a cold air mass advancing into a warm air mass
Dew Point
The temperature to which air must be cooled to in order for dew (or frost) to
form
Fog
A cloud with its base at the Earth's surface
Heat Index
An index that combines the air temperature and relative humidity to determine
an apparent temperature - how it really feels to the human body
Heat Lightning
Ordinary lightning that is too far away for its thunder to be heard; a misnomer.
High
A region of air with higher barometric pressure than the area surrounding it,
around which winds rotate clockwise; usually associated with fair weather
Jet Stream
Strong winds at about 35,000 feet aloft that divide air masses of different
temperatures, and often act as steering currents for weather systems
Low
A region of air with lower barometric pressure then the area surrounding it that
rotates counter-clockwise; usually associated with stormy weather
Meteorology
The study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena as well as the
atmosphere's interaction with the Earth's surface, oceans and life in general
NEXRAD
An acronym for Next Generation Weather radar, the main component of
NEXRAD is Doppler radar.
Precipitation
Any form of water particles - liquid or solid- that falls from the atmosphere and
reaches the ground
Relative Humidity
The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of
water vapor the air (at a certain temperature) can hold
Showers
Precipitation which comes and goes at an unsteady rate, could be rain or
snow.
Stationary Front
A boundary separating two air masses that shows little or no movement
Warm Front
The leading edge of a warm air mass advancing onto a cold air mass
Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at any particular time and place
Wind Chill
The cooling effect of the combination of temperature and wind, expressed as
the loss of body heat
terms but what do they mean? I have designed this section for people like
you that don't know what their talking about when they say El Nino. Hopefully
I have provided you with some helpful info that will help you understand the
world around you a little better.
Atmosphere
The envelope of air surrounding the planet earth. The atmosphere extends
from the ground to about 180 miles above the planet.
Atmospheric models
Simulation of the atmosphere's behavior by mathematical equations or by
physical models.
Ceiling
The height of the lowest layer of clouds.
Climate
The average of daily and seasonal weather over a long period of time, often 30
years
Cold Front
The leading edge of a cold air mass advancing into a warm air mass
Dew Point
The temperature to which air must be cooled to in order for dew (or frost) to
form
Fog
A cloud with its base at the Earth's surface
Heat Index
An index that combines the air temperature and relative humidity to determine
an apparent temperature - how it really feels to the human body
Heat Lightning
Ordinary lightning that is too far away for its thunder to be heard; a misnomer.
High
A region of air with higher barometric pressure than the area surrounding it,
around which winds rotate clockwise; usually associated with fair weather
Jet Stream
Strong winds at about 35,000 feet aloft that divide air masses of different
temperatures, and often act as steering currents for weather systems
Low
A region of air with lower barometric pressure then the area surrounding it that
rotates counter-clockwise; usually associated with stormy weather
Meteorology
The study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena as well as the
atmosphere's interaction with the Earth's surface, oceans and life in general
NEXRAD
An acronym for Next Generation Weather radar, the main component of
NEXRAD is Doppler radar.
Precipitation
Any form of water particles - liquid or solid- that falls from the atmosphere and
reaches the ground
Relative Humidity
The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of
water vapor the air (at a certain temperature) can hold
Showers
Precipitation which comes and goes at an unsteady rate, could be rain or
snow.
Stationary Front
A boundary separating two air masses that shows little or no movement
Warm Front
The leading edge of a warm air mass advancing onto a cold air mass
Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at any particular time and place
Wind Chill
The cooling effect of the combination of temperature and wind, expressed as
the loss of body heat
Weather Definitions
| CarolinaForecast.com Providing local weather information for North and South Carolina Definitions | Home & Garden | Rainfall Estimates | U.S. Weather Maps | Advertise North Carolina Weather | NC Drought | NC Surf Forecast | Traffic South Carolina Weather | SC Drought |