BEAUFORT SCALE

 

Geographical Terms in Climatology Part 2

 

Air – Humidity
Humidity	The amount of moisture present  in the air is called Humidity.
Absolute Humidity	The amount of moisture present in the air per unit is termed as Absolute Humidity.
Relative Humidity	The ratio between the actual amount of moisture present in the air and saturation point of the same air at same temperature is termed as Relative Humidity.
Specific Humidity	The ratio between the mass of moisture in an unit of the air and total mass of the air is termed as Specific Humidity.
Precipitation
Precipitation	The fall and deposition of moisture content from the atmosphere to surface of the earth is called Precipitation. Rainfall, fog, mist, snow, hail etc. are the different forms precipitation.
Convectional Rainfall	The water is heated and evaporated from the earth’s surface. The water vapour raise upward due to convectional current. Due to the fall of temperature in the water vapour, the water vapour condensed and rainfall occurs. This type of rainfall is called Convectional Rainfall.
Orographic Rainfall or Relief Rainfall	Wind which blow towards the mountain get ascended over the slope of the mountain. The moisture content in the ascending wind get condensed and then rainfall occurs. This type of rainfall is called Orographic Rainfall.
Cyclonic rainfall or Frontal Rainfall	Due to the cyclones or depressions, two airmasses meet or converge each other and then brings rainfall. This type of rainfall is called Cyclonic Rainfall.
Snow	Snow is a form of precipitation with fine and tiny ice crystals.
Fog	The tiny water drops fall from the Troposphere is termed as Fog.
advection Fog	Advection Fog is formed due to the horizontal movement of the warm air mass over the cooler surface.
Mist	A large mass of water droplets present in the Troposphere is termed as Mist.
Dew	Dew is the moisture of the air deposited as water droplets on the surface or vegetation of the earth.
Frost	The moisture of the air fall on the surface of the earth and frozen by low temperature is called Frost.
Hoar Frost	Deposit of Ice Crystals is called Hair Frost.
Haze	Tiny solid substances present in the atmosphere and lowering the visibility of the air is called Haze.
Hail	Small spherical ice pellets fall from rainy clouds are called Haze.
Sleet	Sleet is the mixture of rainfall and snow due to the low temperature.
Alpine Glow	Alpine Glow is the flush glaring of the snow covered mountains of Alps regions before the sunrise and after the sunset.
Smog	Smog is the mixture of fog and snow. Smog fall is common in highly polluted temperate region in temperate regions.
Clouds
Cloud	Cloud is a mass of tiny water particles and ice crystals present in the layer in the Troposphere.
Stratus Clouds	Stratus clouds are the low level clouds look like sheets or layers and found horizontally. They bring light rainfall.
Cirrus Clouds	Cirrus clouds are found above 6000 meter altitude and look like feathery, wispy and thin clouds.
Cumulus Clouds	Cumulus clouds are the low clouds found up to 2000 meter height and looks puffy.
Nimbus Clouds	Nimbus clouds are the low level clouds brings rain, snow, sleet, fog etc.
Low Clouds	Low clouds are found up to 2000 meter height from the ground level. Stratus, Stratocumulus and Nimbostratus clouds are the Low Clouds.
Middle Clouds	Middle clouds are found in the altitude of 2000 to 8000 meter height from the ground level. Altostratus and Altocumulus clouds are the Middle Clouds.
High Clouds	Cirrus, Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus are the High Clouds found between 5000 and 13000 meter height.
Alto Stratus Clouds	Alto stratus clouds are them medium clouds found in  looks like continuous sheets found in 2000 – 7000 meter height.
Alto Cumulus Clouds	Alto cumulus clouds are the medium clouds look like rounded or parallel banded shape.
Cirro Cumulus Clouds	Cirro cumulus clouds appears like flakey and patches between 5000 -15000 meter height.
Cumulo Nimbus Clouds	Cumulo nimbus clouds form due to great variation in atmospheric pressure and found in 2000 to 20000 meter height. This is the King of Clouds.
Heat Zones
Torrid Zone	Torrid Zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The temperature is high in this zone
Temperate Zone	Temperate Zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere and between Tropic of Capricorn and Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere. The temperature is Moderate in this zone. North Temperate Zone and South Temperate Zone are the two Temperate Zones.
Frigid Zone	Frigid Zone lies beyond the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. The temperature is low in these zones. North Frigid Zone and South Frigid Zone are the two Frigid Zones.
Air – Pressure
Equatorial Low pressure Belt	Equatorial Low Pressure Belt lies between 5⁰ North and 5⁰ South. The air pressure is low here due to the high temperature and ascending movement of the air.
Sub Tropical High Pressure Belt	Sub Tropical High Pressure Belts lie between 25⁰  and 30⁰ of northern and southern latitudes. Here the air pressure is high due to descending movement of air.
Sub Polar Low Pressure Belt	Sub Polar Low Pressure Belts lie in 60⁰ and 70⁰ north and south latitudes. The air pressure is low  due to the presence of vast land mass in the North and adjoining high pressure belts.
Polar High Pressure Belt	Polar High Pressure Belts lie beyond 70⁰ north and south latitudes. Here the air ascends and creates high pressure belts.
Doldrums	Between 5⁰ north and 5⁰ south latitudes the wind is feeble. The zone is dull and calm around the Equator. This zone is called Doldrums.
Horse Latitudes	Trade wind originate between the latitudes of 30⁰ and 35⁰ north and south latitudes. This zone is calm and known as Horse Latitudes.
Roaring Forties	The region of Roaring Forties lies in the oceanic southern hemisphere between 40⁰ to 50⁰ South latitudes. Here the wind blow and roar with great velocity due to the absence of barriers.
Furious Fifties	The region of Furious Fifties lies in the oceanic southern hemisphere between 50⁰ to 60⁰ South latitudes. Here the wind blow furiously with great velocity due to the absence of barriers.
Screaming Sixties or Shrieking Sixties	The region of Screaming Sixties lies in the oceanic southern hemisphere between 60 ⁰and 65⁰ South latitudes. Here the wind blow with high sound and great velocity due to the absence of barriers.
Aleutian Low	Aleutian Low is the Sub Polar low pressure area near by the Aleutian Islands over Bering Sea.
Wedge of High Pressure	Wedge of High Pressure is a small high pressure region forms between two depressions.
Inter Tropical Convergence Zone	The Trade Wind from Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere  converge over the Equator. This zone is called Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.

 

Geographical Terms in Climatology - Part 1

 

          Geographical Terms

Climatology

Part -1

Weather and Climate
Weather	Weather is the atmospheric condition of a short period. Weather changes time to time. Ex. The weather condition of a place varies from morning to afternoon.
Climate	Climate is the average atmospheric condition of a long period of a specific place. Ex. Average atmospheric condition of 30 years.
Air	Air is the mixture of gases. Air is composed of Carbon di oxide, Oxygen, Nitrogen etc.
Aerology	Systematic and scientific study of atmosphere is termed as Aerology.
Meteorology	Study of Atmosphere is termed as Meteorology.
Climatology	Study of Climate is called as Climatology
Aerography	Aerography is the study of properties of the atmosphere.
Atmosphere – Structure and Layers
Atmosphere	The air around the earth is called Atmosphere.
Composition of Atmosphere	Atmosphere is composed of mixture of gases. The air is composed of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide etc.
Structure of Atmosphere	The Atmosphere consists of five layers 1) Troposphere 2) Stratosphere 3) Mesosphere 4) Ionosphere 5) Exosphere.
Aerosols	The solid and liquid particles found in the atmosphere collectively known as Aerosols.
Troposphere	Troposphere is the lowest layer of Atmosphere. It is found between the surface of the earth and the stratosphere. It extends up to 8 km to 18 km from the surface of the earth. Weather Change is the major phenomenon here
Stratosphere	This atmospheric layer is found between the Troposphere and Mesosphere. It extends 30 km height beyond the Troposphere.
Mesosphere	This layer is found in the altitude between 50 and 80 km from the earth’s surface. The layer is free from disturbances and useful for air transport. The layer is rich in ozone.
Ionosphere	This layer is found in the altitude between 80 and 900 km from the earth’s surface. The layer is rich in ions and helpful for communications.
Exosphere	The layer beyond the Ionosphere is known as Exosphere. This layer is the way to space. this layer is called Upper Atmosphere.
Ozonosphere	This layer is found between 30 and 60 km height from the earth’s surface. It is rich in ozone. The layer is known as Chemosphere also.
Tropopause	Tropopause is the imaginary line, separates Troposphere and Stratosphere.
Stratopause	Stratopause is the imaginary line, separates Stratosphere and Mesosphere.
Mesopause	Mesopause is the imaginary line, separates Mesosphere and Exosphere.
Thermosphere	This layer extends from 80 to 640 km height from the earth’s surface. It is rich in ions. Here the temperature rapidly increases with increasing altitude. The layer consists of two layers namely Ionosphere and Exosphere.
Magnetosphere	The atmospheric layer beyond 500 km from the earth’s surface. The Magnetosphere influences the magnetic field of the earth.
Homosphere	Troposphere, Stratosphere and Mesosphere is together called Homosphere. Here the Atmosphere is uniform in composition.
Heterosphere	The layer beyond the Homosphere is termed as Heterosphere. The atmospheric composition is uneven here.
Van Allen Radiation Belt	This layer extends 1,600 to 13,000 km height from the earth’s surface. This sphere influences the magnetic field of the earth by energetic charged particles.
Atmosphere – Climatic Elements
Temperature	The amount or degree of Heat is called Temperature. Temperature is measured by Celsius or Fahrenheit units.
Pressure	The force on a spot by the weight of the air termed as Pressure. Pressure is measured by Barometer.
Isotherms	Isotherm is an imaginary line joins the places of equal temperature areas.
Isobars	An imaginary line joins the places of equal atmospheric pressure areas.
Isohyets	An imaginary line joins the places of equal amount of rainfall areas.
Isohels	An imaginary line joins the places of equal amount of sunshine areas.
Isonephs	An imaginary line joins the places of equal amount of cloudiness areas.
Beaufort Scale	The Beaufort Scale divides the speed of the wind by the numeric. Wind are named by numbers according to their speed from 1 to 17.
Altitude	Altitude is the height from the sea level measures usually by meter or feet.
Atmospheric Instruments
Thermometer	Thermometer is an instrument used to measure the atmospheric temperature.
Barometer	Barometer is an Instrument used to measure the atmospheric pressure.
Hygrometer	Hygrometer is an instrument used to measure the Relative Humidity of the atmosphere.
Altimeter	Altimeter is an instrument used to measure the altitude or height of an area from the mean sea level.
Wind vane or Weathervane or Weathercock	Wind Vane is an instrument user to measure the direction of the wind.
Rain Gauge	Rain Gauge is a simple instrument to measure the amount of rainfall.
Anemometer	Anemometer is an instrument used to measure the direction of the wind.
Evaporimeter	Evaporimeter is an instrument used to measure the rate and quantity of evaporation at the wet surface.
Sunshine Recorder	Sunshine Recorder is an instrument used to measure the duration of sunshine of the day.
Solarimeter	Solarimeter is an instrument used to measure the amount of solar radiation.
Theodolite	Theodolite is a surveying instrument used to measure the angular distances.
Atmosphere – Elements
Evaporation	Evaporation is the process of conversion of liquid into vapour.
Condensation	Condensation is the process of conversion of vapour into liquid.
Sublimation	Sublimation is the process of direct conversion of liquid into vapour.
Conduction	Conduction is the process of heat transfer without any movement of substances.
Convection	Convection is the process of heat transfer with the substances of air, liquid, vapor etc.
Radiation	Radiation is the process of transferring heat by electromagnetic waves.
Scattering	The reradiated solar energy into the atmosphere is termed as Scattering.
Insolation	The incoming solar radiation of the earth is termed as Insolation.
Advection	The movement of airmass parallel to the surface of the earth.
Terrestrial Radiation	The process of heat emitted  from the surface of the earth is termed as Terrestrial Radiation.
Inversion of temperature	The reversal of the normal temperature in the atmospheric layer of Troposphere.
Albedo of the earth	The ratio of Solar Energy falls on non luminous surface of the earth to the reflection amount of Solar Energy from it.
Lapse Rate	The temperature vary with the altitude is termed as Lapse Rate.
Normal Lapse Rate	The temperature vary with the altitude is termed as Lapse Rate. The Normal Lapse Rate is 6.5⁰ Celsius.
Adiabatic Lapse Rate	The changing rate of temperature in atmosphere with increasing altitude.
Latent Heat	Latent Heat is the amount of Heat Energy transferred into the atmosphere due to the conversion of a substance from one form to another form.
Heat Balance	The relation between the absorbed and redirected solar energy by the vegetation and atmosphere.
Heat Budget	The sun emits energy in the form of Radiation. 35% of the radiation is reflected back by the atmospheric particles to the space. 14% of the solar radiation is absorbed by the atmospheric particles. 51% of solar radiation is received by the earth. Heat Budget of the earth is 51%.
Diurnal Range of Temperature	The difference between the Maximum and Minimum Temperature of a day.
Temperature Anomaly	The difference between mean temperature of a place mean temperature of the latitude of the place.
Thermal Current	The vertical movement of the air due to the difference in insolation radiation.
Thermal Equator or Heat Equator	Thermal Equator is an imaginary line joining the highest mean temperature of the places.
Solar Constant	The rate of solar energy reaches on the surface of the earth is termed as Solar Constant.
Air Pollution	Mixing of impure and harmful elements with the air is called air pollution.
Heat Wave	Heat wave is the abnormal higher temperature of an area due to high rate of evaporation by above average temperature in summer.
Cold Wave	Cold wave is the rapid fall of temperature during winter.
Saturation level or Saturation Point	The air can hold maximum amount of water vapour in a particular temperature and pressure in the atmosphere. This is called Saturation level of the air.
Dew Point	The atmospheric temperature needs to condense the water droplets into dew is termed as Dew Point.
Green House  Gas	The gas which absorbs and emits radiant energy in the atmosphere is termed as Green House Gas. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc. are the Green House Gases.
Heat Island	The temperature of an urbanized area is higher than the surrounding rural areas due to human activities. The isothermal lines look like islands in climatic map of the urban areas.
Mid Night Sun	The sunlight is visible around the Arctic regions during the summer nights. Norway is called the Land of Midnight Sun.
Dawn	Dawn is the visible light rays in the sky before the sunrise of a day.
Twilight	Twilight is the visible light rays in the sky after the sunset of a day.
Ultra Violet Radiation	The sun emits ultra violet rays. The ozone layer absorbs the ultra violet rays. A particular amount of ultra violet rays reach on the surface of the Earth.
Ozone Depletion	The ozone layer is weakened by the air pollution due to human activities. The destruction of ozone layer is called Ozone Depletion.
Coriolis Force	The rotation of the earth deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ferrel’s Law	The wind deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and deflected to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect.
Water Vapour	Water from the earth’s surface evaporates by heat. The evaporated matter present in the air in gaseous form called Water Vapour.
Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights	The Northern light is visible at night around the regions of higher latitudes in Northern Hemisphere.
Aurora Australis or Southern Lights	The Southern light is visible at night around the regions oh higher latitudes in Southern Hemisphere.