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| The point of the earth's orbit where the distance between the earth and sun is least. (~147 million km or 91.5 million mi) Occuring January when the sun is closest to earth. |
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| The point of the earth's orbit where the distance between the earth is greatest. (~152 million km or 94.5 million mi) Occurs in July when its farthest. |
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| March 20 or 21, when the subsolar point is located at the Equator |
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| June 20 or 21, when the subsolar point is located at the Tropic of Cancer. |
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| September 22 or 23, when the subsolar point is located at the Equator. |
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| December 21 or 22, when the subsolar point is at the Tropic o Capricorn. |
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| The distance between adjacent wave crests or wave troughs. |
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| The overall height of any given wave as measured from the wave trough to the wave crest. |
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| The radimt energy produced by the sun that is measured in progressive wavelengths. |
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| The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes thermal infrared radiation. |
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| The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes gamma rays, X-rays, ultra-violet radiation, visible light, and near-infrared radiation. |
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| Amount of solar radiation measured in watts per square meter (w/m2) that strikes a surface perpendicular to the Sun's incoming rays. |
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| Energy that is transmitted in the form of rays or waves. |
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| The transfer of heat energy from one substance to another by direct physical contact. |
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| A circular cell of moving matter that contains warm material moving up and cooler matter moving down. |
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| The layer of the atmosphere that contains high concentrations of ozone, which protect the earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. |
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| The force that air molecules exert on a surface due to their weight. |
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| Maritime vs. Continental effect |
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Definition
| The difference in annual and daily tempreature that exists between coastal locations and those that are surrounded by large bodies of land. |
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| A place that is close to a large body of water that moderates temperature. |
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| A place that is surrounded by a large body of land and that experiences a large annual range of temperature. |
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| The relatively warm temperatures associated with cities that occur because paved surfaces and urban structures absorb and release radiation differently than the surrounding countryside. |
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| A rotating column of air that descends toward the surface of the Earth where it diverges. |
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| A rotating column of air where air converges at the surface and subsequently lifts. |
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| The horizontal transfer of air. |
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| The difference in barometric pressure that exists between adjacent zone of low and high pressure that results in air flow. |
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| The force created by the earth's rotation that causes winds to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. |
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Definition
| Core of low pressure zone associated with Intertropical Convergence Zone. |
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| Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) |
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Definition
| Band of low pressure, calm winds, and clouds in tropical latitudes where air converges from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. |
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| The primary wind system in the tropics that flows toward the ITCZ on the equatorial side of the Subtropical High-Pressure system. These winds flow to the southwest in the Northern Hemisphere and to the northwest in the Southern Hemisphere. |
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| Band of easterly winds that exists where Northern and Southern trade winds converge. |
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| The seasonal change in wind direction that occurs in subtropical locations due to the migration of the ITCZ and the subtropical High-Pressure System. |
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| Subtropical High Pressure System |
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Definition
| Band of high air pressure, calm winds, and clear skies that exists at about 25 degrees to 30 degrees N and S latitude. |
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| Daytime circulatory system along coasts where winds flow from a zone of high pressure over water to a zone of relatively low pressure over land. |
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| Nighttime circulatory system along coasts where winds from a zone of high pressure over land flow to a zone of relatively low pressure over water. |
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| Upslope airflow that develops when mountain slopes heat up due to re-radiation and conduction over the course of the day. |
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| Downslope airflow that develops when mountain slopes cool off at night and relatively low pressure exists in valleys. |
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| Downslope airflow that results when a zone of high air pressure exists on one side of a mountain range and a zone of low pressure exists on the other. |
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| A large body of air in the lower atmosphere that has distinct temperature and humidity characteristics. |
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| A boundary where contrasting air masses are flowing parallel to one another. |
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| A rapidly moving current of cool air that flows downward in a thunderstrom. |
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| An area of rapidly flowing air that is moving upward within a thunderstorm. |
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| The ability to absorb heat. Water reflects sunlight, molecules spread and wind helps transfer heat. |
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| How much water in the atmosphere. |
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| Exact humidity, water is in the air at that moment. |
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| The ratio between the specific and maximum humidity of a definable body of air. |
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| The temperature at which condensation occurs in a definable body of air. |
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| Changes in temperature that occur due to variations in air pressure. |
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| The rate at which an unsaturated body of air cools while lifting or warms while descending. This rate is 10 degree celecius/1000m (5.5 degrees F/1000 ft). |
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| Thin and whispy, high-level clouds; also known as mare's tails.[image] |
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| Appears as white patches; usually formed from Cirrus or Cirrostratus torn by winds; indicates approaching surface winds.[image] |
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| Thick, dull gray, low-lying layers; occurs as fog at ground level, often produces mist or drizzle.[image] |
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dark rain clouds; form near the ground but usually extend upward.
[image] |
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| A frontal boundary where warm air is advancing into relatively cool air. This front is typically associated with slow, steady precipitation. |
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| A frontal boundary where cold air is advancing into relatively warm air. This front is typically associated with intense rain of short duration. |
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| A tropical low-pressure system with central sustained winds ranging between 20 knots and 34 knots (23 mph and 39 mph). |
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| A tropical low-pressure system with maximum sustained winds between 35 knots and 63 knots (39 mph and 73 mph). |
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| A tropical circulatory system with maximum sustained winds greater than 63 knots (73 mph). |
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| Deadly winterstorms that are a combonation of blowing snow and wind resulting in very low visibilities. Accompanied also by heavy snowfall and serve cold temperature. |
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| Is a mass of very dry, dusty air coming from Western and Northen Africa. Occurs late spring, summer and early fall where it moves 3-5 days across the tropical North Atlantic Ocean. It can cause significant negative impacts on tropical cyclone intensely forming. |
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