Weather Vocabulary

Word Definition Image

wind the perceptible natural movement of the 

air, especially in the form of a current of 
air blowing from a particular direction.

anemometer an instrument for measuring the speed of 

the wind, or of any current of gas.

atmospheric the pressure exerted by the weight of the 

pressure atmosphere, which at sea level has a 
mean value of 101,325 pascals (roughly 
14.6959 pounds per square inch)

density the degree of compactness of a 

substance
sea level the level of the sea's surface, used in 
reckoning the height of geographical 
features such as hills and as a barometric 
standard

barometer an instrument measuring atmospheric 

pressure, used especially in forecasting 
the weather and determining altitude

convection cell a self-contained convective zone in a fluid 

in which upward motion of warmer fluid 
in the center is balanced by downward 
motion of cooler fluid at the periphery

prototype a first, typical or preliminary model of 

something, especially a machine, from 
which other forms are developed or 
copied 

dew point the atmospheric temperature (varying 

according to pressure and humidity) 
below which water droplets begin to 
condense and dew can form
dew tiny drops of water that form on cool 
surfaces at night, when atmospheric 
vapor condenses.

water cycle the cycle of processes by which water 

circulates between the earth's oceans, 
atmosphere, and land, involving 
precipitation as rain and snow, drainage 
in streams and rivers, and return to the 
atmosphere by evaporation and 
transpiration

ground water water held underground in the soil or in 

pores and crevices in rock

transpiration Of a plant or leaf the exhalation of water 

vapor through the stomata

evaporation the process of turning from liquid into 

vapor.
absolute Absolute humidity is the measure of 
humidity water vapor (moisture) in the air, 
regardless of temperature. It is 
expressed as grams of moisture per 
cubic meter of air (g/m3). The 
maximum absolute humidity of warm 
air at 30°C/86°F is approximately 30g 
of water vapor – 30g/m3

relative the amount of water vapor present in air 

humidity expressed as a percentage of the amount 
needed for saturation at the same 
temperature.

crystallization Crystallization is the solidification of 

atoms or molecules into a highly 
structured form called a crystal.

precipitation the action or process of precipitating a 

substance from a solution.

stationary front A stationary front is a pair of air masses, 

neither of which is strong enough to 
replace the other.
warm front the boundary of an advancing mass of 
warm air, in particular the leading edge of 
the warm sector of a low-pressure system

occluded front a composite front produced by occlusion

cold front the boundary of an advancing mass of 

cold air, in particular the trailing edge of 
the warm sector of a low-pressure 
system.

weather front t​ he boundary of an advancing mass of 

cold air, in particular the trailing edge of 
the warm sector of a low-pressure system

air mass a body of air with horizontally uniform 

temperature, humidity, and pressure.
Low pressure A low pressure system has lower 
system pressure at its center than the areas 
around it

High pressure High-pressure systems are frequently 

system associated with light winds at the 
surface and subsidence through the 
lower portion of the troposphere.

isobar a line on a map connecting points having 

the same atmospheric pressure at a given 
time or on average over a given period.

severe A severe thunderstorm warning is issued 

thunderstorm by the National Weather Service when 
trained storm spotters or Doppler weather 
radar indicate that a thunderstorm is 
producing or will soon produce 
dangerously large hail or high winds, 
capable of causing significant damage. 
severe weather Severe weather refers to any dangerous 
meteorological phenomena with the 
potential to cause damage, serious social 
disruption, or loss of human life.

blizzard a severe snowstorm with high winds and 

low visibility

Heat index a measure indicating the level of 

discomfort the average person is thought 
to experience as a result of the combined 
effects of the temperature and humidity 
of the air.

Heat wave a prolonged period of abnormally hot 

weather.

tornado a mobile, destructive vortex of violently 

rotating winds having the appearance of a 
funnel-shaped cloud and advancing 
beneath a large storm system.
hurricane a storm with a violent wind, in particular a 
tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.