Specialist dictionary

Climate and weather geography

Climate systems, weather patterns, atmospheric circulation and climate zones.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Advectionnoun

(meteorology) the horizontal transfer of heat or other atmospheric properties

Anticyclonenoun

(meteorology) winds spiraling outward from a high pressure center; circling clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the sou…

Barnoun

(meteorology) a unit of pressure equal to a million dynes per square centimeter; "unfortunately some writers have used bar for one dyne per squa…

Ceilingnoun

(meteorology) altitude of the lowest layer of clouds

Climatologynoun

meteorology of climates and their phenomena

Convectionnoun

(meteorology) the vertical movement of heat or other properties by massive motion within the atmosphere

Cyclonenoun

(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clock…

Frontnoun

(meteorology) the atmospheric phenomenon created at the boundary between two different air masses

Isobarnoun

(meteorology)an isogram connecting points having equal barometric pressure at a given time

Isothermnoun

(meteorology) an isogram connecting points having the same temperature at a given time

Meteorologynoun

the earth science dealing with phenomena of the atmosphere (especially weather)

Occluded frontnoun

(meteorology) a composite front when colder air surrounds a mass of warm air and forces it aloft

Occlusionnoun

(meteorology) a composite front when colder air surrounds a mass of warm air and forces it aloft

Weather chartnoun

(meteorology) a map showing the principal meteorological elements at a given time and over an extended region

Weather mapnoun

(meteorology) a map showing the principal meteorological elements at a given time and over an extended region

Atmospheric conditionnoun

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation; "they were h…

Climatenoun

the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time; "the dank climate of southern Wales"; "plants from a cold clime travel best…

Climenoun

the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time; "the dank climate of southern Wales"; "plants from a cold clime travel best…

Conditionsnoun

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation; "they were h…

Droughtnoun

a shortage of rainfall; "farmers most affected by the drought hope that there may yet be sufficient rain early in the growing season"

Drouthnoun

a shortage of rainfall; "farmers most affected by the drought hope that there may yet be sufficient rain early in the growing season"

Geographical zonenoun

any of the regions of the surface of the Earth loosely divided according to latitude or longitude

Monsoonnoun

a seasonal wind in southern Asia; blows from the southwest (bringing rain) in summer and from the northeast in winter

Precipitationnoun

the quantity of water falling to earth at a specific place within a specified period of time; "the storm brought several inches of precipitation"

Pressurenoun

the somatic sensation that results from applying force to an area of skin; "the sensitivity of his skin to pressure and temperature was normal"

Pressure sensationnoun

the somatic sensation that results from applying force to an area of skin; "the sensitivity of his skin to pressure and temperature was normal"

Rainnoun

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

Rainfallnoun

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

Temperaturenoun

the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)

Twistnoun

the act of winding or twisting; "he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind"

Weathernoun

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation; "they were h…

Weather conditionnoun

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation; "they were h…

Windnoun

the act of winding or twisting; "he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind"

Windingnoun

the act of winding or twisting; "he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind"

Zonenoun

any of the regions of the surface of the Earth loosely divided according to latitude or longitude

Aerologynoun

meteorology of the total extent of the atmosphere; especially the upper layers

Bioclimatologynoun

the study of effects of climate on living organisms

Cold frontnoun

the front of an advancing mass of colder air

Nephologynoun

the branch of meteorology that studies clouds and cloud formation

Polar frontnoun

the front of an advancing mass of colder air

Warm frontnoun

the front of an advancing mass of warmer air

Wind rosenoun

weather map showing the frequency and strength of winds from different directions

Atmospherenoun

the weather or climate at some place; "the atmosphere was thick with fog"

Atmospheric statenoun

the weather or climate at some place; "the atmosphere was thick with fog"

Boilnoun

the temperature at which a liquid boils at sea level; "they brought the water to a boil"

Cloudburstnoun

a heavy rain

Coldnoun

the absence of heat; "the coldness made our breath visible"; "come in out of the cold"; "cold is a vasoconstrictor"

Coldnessnoun

the absence of heat; "the coldness made our breath visible"; "come in out of the cold"; "cold is a vasoconstrictor"

Delugenoun

a heavy rain

Dew pointnoun

the temperature at which the water vapor in the air becomes saturated and condensation begins

Downfallnoun

the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)

Downpournoun

a heavy rain

Drizzlenoun

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

Frigidnessnoun

the absence of heat; "the coldness made our breath visible"; "come in out of the cold"; "cold is a vasoconstrictor"

Heatnoun

the presence of heat

Hotnessnoun

the presence of heat

Inclemencynoun

weather unsuitable for outdoor activities

Mercurynoun

temperature measured by a mercury thermometer; "the mercury was falling rapidly"

Mizzlenoun

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

Monsoonnoun

any wind that changes direction with the seasons

Pelternoun

a heavy rain

Precipitationnoun

the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)

Rain showernoun

a brief period of precipitation; "the game was interrupted by a brief shower"

Showernoun

a brief period of precipitation; "the game was interrupted by a brief shower"

Simmernoun

temperature just below the boiling point; "the stew remained at a simmer for hours"

Soakernoun

a heavy rain

Sultrinessnoun

oppressively hot and humid weather

Sunshinenoun

moderate weather; suitable for outdoor activities

Temperatenessnoun

moderate weather; suitable for outdoor activities

Thawnoun

warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt; "they welcomed the spring thaw"

Thawingnoun

warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt; "they welcomed the spring thaw"

Torrentnoun

a heavy rain

Warmingnoun

warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt; "they welcomed the spring thaw"

Waterspoutnoun

a heavy rain

Wavenoun

a persistent and widespread unusual weather condition (especially of unusual temperatures); "a heat wave"

Windnoun

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure; "trees bent under the fierce winds"; "w…

Airnoun

a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck"

Blastnoun

a strong current of air; "the tree was bent almost double by the gust"

Blownoun

a strong current of air; "the tree was bent almost double by the gust"

Boreasnoun

a wind that blows from the north

Breezenoun

a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck"

Calefactionnoun

the property of being warming

Calmnoun

wind moving at less than 1 knot; 0 on the Beaufort scale

Calmnessnoun

an absence of strong winds or rain

Chillnoun

coldness due to a cold environment

Chillinessnoun

the property of being moderately cold; "the chilliness of early morning"

Chinooknoun

a warm dry wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rockies

Clemencynoun

good weather with comfortable temperatures

Cloudinessnoun

the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds

Coolnoun

the quality of being at a refreshingly low temperature; "the cool of early morning"

Coolnessnoun

the property of being moderately cold; "the chilliness of early morning"

Doldrumsnoun

a belt of calms and light winds between the northern and southern trade winds of the Atlantic and Pacific

Draftnoun

a current of air (usually coming into a chimney or room or vehicle)

Draughtnoun

a current of air (usually coming into a chimney or room or vehicle)

Easternoun

a wind from the east

Easterlynoun

a wind from the east

Fierinessnoun

the heat or the color of fire

Fognoun

an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance

Fogginessnoun

an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance

Freezenoun

weather cold enough to cause freezing

Frostnoun

weather cold enough to cause freezing

Frostinessnoun

coldness as evidenced by frost

Galenoun

a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale

Geliditynoun

coldness due to a cold environment

Gentle windnoun

a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck"

Gustnoun

a strong current of air; "the tree was bent almost double by the gust"

Hailnoun

precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents

Harmattannoun

a dusty wind from the Sahara that blows toward the western coast of Africa during the winter

Heat wavenoun

a wave of unusually hot weather

Icinessnoun

coldness due to a cold environment

Incalescencenoun

the property of being warming

Khamsinnoun

an oppressively hot southerly wind from the Sahara that blows across Egypt in the spring

Languornoun

oppressively still air; "the afternoon was hot, quiet, and heavy with languor"; "Summer shows all the languor of a hot, breezeless day as the da…

Mildnessnoun

good weather with comfortable temperatures

Murknoun

an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance

Murkinessnoun

an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance

Nipnoun

the property of being moderately cold; "the chilliness of early morning"

Northernoun

a wind that blows from the north

Northerlynoun

a wind that blows from the north

Northwesternoun

a wind from the northwest