BASIC TERMINOLOGIES

Atmosphere - Atmosphere is the envelope of gases surrounding the earth, held by gravity.
Aurora : Multicoloured lights that appear in the upper atmosphere (ionosphere) over the
polar regions and visible from locations in the middle and high latitudes. Caused by the
interaction of solar wind with oxygen and nitrogen gas in the atmosphere. Aurora in the
Northern Hemisphere are called aurora borealis and aurora australis in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Insolation : Incoming solar radiation in short wave form
Convection - The transmission of heat from one part of a liquid or gas to another by
movement of the particles themselves.
Conduction - Conduction takes place when two bodies of unequal temperature are in
contact with one another; there is a flow of energy from the warmer to cooler body. The
transfer of heat continues until both the bodies attain the same temperature or the contact
is broken.
Advection: The transfer of heat through horizontal movement of air is called advection.
Radiation - The process by which a body emits radiant energy (energy received from the
sun). It causes a loss heat, and therefore, leads to cooling
Isotherms: a type of equal temperature at a given date or time on a geographic map
Isobars: a line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure
Global Warming: Warming of the Earths average global temperature because of an
increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Effect: The greenhouse effect causes the atmosphere to trap more heat
energy at the Earths surface and within the atmosphere by absorbing and re-emitting
long wave energy.
Moisture - Water exists in the atmosphere as water vapor, clouds, fog and precipitation
Hydrological Cycle - The movement of water between the land, the oceans and the
atmosphere
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. The amount of water the air can
hold depends on temperature. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air.
Precipitation results when a large mass of air is lifted and cooled to a temperature below
its dew point.
 Adiabatic processes cause heating or cooling solely by pressure change. Air that rises
expands and cools as pressure decreases with altitude. Air that descends encounters
higher pressures and is compressed and warms.
Condensation Nuclei - A cloud is made up of water droplets or ice formed on tiny
particles of matter
Atmospheric Pressure: Weight of the atmosphere on a surface. At sea-level, the average
atmospheric pressure is 1013.25 mb. Pressure is measured by a device called a
barometer. Atmospheric pressure is greatest at the earths surface and decreases with
altitude.
Pressure Gradients - Pressure differences between two places create pressure gradients
and the resulting pressure gradient force causes air to move from high pressure areas to
low pressure areas.
Wind - Differences in pressure cause air to move horizontally. This air in motion is called
wind. Winds move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Wind direction is
measured by a wind vane. Wind speed is measured by an anemometer.
Coriolis Effect - The Coriolis Effect is due to the earths rotation and causes objects in
motion to appear to be deflected off course. This apparent deflection is to the right in the
northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. The effect is absent at the
equator and increases as you move toward the poles.
Air Mass : A body of air whose temperature and humidity characteristics, acquired in
source region, remain relatively constant over a horizontal distance of hundreds to
thousands of km. Air masses develop their climatic characteristics by remaining
stationary over a source region for a number of days. Air masses are classified according
to their temperature and humidity characteristics.
albedo is defined as the ratio of radiation reflected to the radiation incident on a surface