Meteopedia — Weather glossary

Weather encyclopedia with 342 terms

Browse detailed definitions of atmospheric phenomena, cloud types, measurement instruments, regional winds, meteorological scales, climatology and more.

342 Meteopedia 16 categories
All (342) Atmospheric phenomena (50) Instruments (30) Scales and measurements (10) Clouds (36) Wind (34) Precipitation (24) Temperature (15) Cyclones and severe storms (14) Atmospheric optics (16) Meteorological astronomy (5) Climatology (34) Marine meteorology (15) Air quality (10) Agrometeorology (10) Hazards and safety (10) General (29)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Apparent temperature

Temperature perceived by the human body, differing from actual air temperature due to wind (wind chill) or humidity (heat index) effects.

Temperature

B

Black frost

A frost that destroys plant tissue without leaving visible ice deposits, caused by very dry air at sub-zero temperatures.

Temperature

C

Cold wave

Prolonged period of abnormally low temperatures for a given region and time of year, caused by the intrusion of polar or Arctic air masses.

Temperature

D

Dew point

Temperature at which air must cool for water vapour to condense into droplets (100 % relative humidity).

Temperature

Diurnal temperature range

Difference between maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in a given period (usually a day), indicative of climate type and maritime influence.

Temperature

F

Frost

Drop in air or surface temperature below 0 °C, with possible ice formation.

Temperature

H

Heat index

A measure of apparent temperature combining air temperature and relative humidity to indicate how the human body perceives heat.

Temperature

Heatstroke

Medical emergency caused by failure of the body's thermoregulation when core temperature exceeds 40 °C, potentially fatal.

Temperature

Heatwave

Extended period of abnormally high temperatures for the season and region.

Temperature

P

Potential temperature

Temperature an air parcel would have if brought adiabatically to the standard pressure level of 1,000 hPa, used to compare air masses at different altitudes.

Temperature

T

Temperature inversion

Anomalous situation where air temperature increases with altitude, trapping pollution and fog.

Temperature

Tropical night

Night in which the minimum temperature does not fall below 20 °C, preventing restorative rest and increasing mortality during heat waves.

Temperature

U

Urban heat island

Phenomenon whereby cities record temperatures several degrees higher than surrounding rural areas, due to heat absorption by buildings, asphalt, and human activity.

Temperature

W

Wet-bulb temperature

Lowest temperature achievable by water evaporation in the air, a key indicator of the human survival limit under heat.

Temperature

Wind chill

Perceived temperature when wind accelerates heat loss from exposed skin, making cold feel more intense than the actual air temperature.

Temperature