Rough Science

Weather Challenge Glossary


Convection - In meteorological terms, convection is the transfer of heat by the upward flow of hot air.


Warm sector - The zone between the warm and cold fronts where moist humid conditions persist at the surface.


Genus - Type of cloud.


Species - Cloud shape and structure.


Variety - Arrangement of elements and transparency.


Barometer - A device to measure changes in atmospheric pressure


Hygrometer - An instrument that measures humidity.


Weather vane - An instrument that measures wind direction.


Anemometer - An instrument that measures wind speed.


Thermal energy - Energy from the heat of the sun and earth.


29.92 inches of mercury - Believe it or not this is the height of mercury equal in weight to the amount of air above you and this can be measured directly with a mercury barometer.


Relative humidity - The amount of moisture currently in the air compared to the maximum amount of moisture the air would be able to hold at the current temperature, expressed as a percentage.


Anomometer - An instrument for measuring the force of the wind.