Climate Science Vocabulary

noun a meteorological term used to describe a specific region of the atmosphere

• The movement of an air mass can greatly influence the weather patterns in a region.
• When a big air mass moves in, it usually means a change in the weather.
• That air mass coming through is gonna bring some crazy storms.
• His anger was like a hot, stagnant air mass suffocating the room.

noun the study of wind and its effects on the environment

• Anemology is the scientific study of winds and their effects.
• I find anemology to be a fascinating field of study.
• Some people think anemology is just a bunch of hot air.
• In the world of business, understanding anemology can help navigate the winds of change.

adjective mild and refreshing; soft; soothing

• The balmy weather in the tropical region is perfect for growing exotic fruits.
• Let's take a walk outside while the weather is still balmy.
• I love it when the weather gets all balmy and warm, it's so relaxing.
• The balmy atmosphere of the party made everyone feel at ease and comfortable.

noun a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand or rocks

verb to abandon or leave someone or something, often without intending to return

• The desert is a harsh environment with very little rainfall.
• Let's go on a desert adventure and explore the sand dunes!
• I'm so thirsty, I feel like I've been wandering in the desert all day.
• After being betrayed by his friends, he felt like he was left in the desert with no one to turn to.

noun a region that receives very little precipitation, often characterized by sand dunes and extreme temperatures

verb to leave someone without help or support, especially in a difficult situation

• Deserts are arid regions characterized by very low precipitation levels.
• Deserts are super dry places with hardly any rain.
• Deserts are like total wastelands, man.
• In the deserts of loneliness, he wandered aimlessly searching for companionship.

noun the height above a given level, especially sea level

• The elevation of the mountain peak is 14,505 feet above sea level.
• The elevation gain on this hike is no joke, my legs are burning!
• I can feel the elevation kicking in, I might need to take it easy for a bit.
• His promotion to manager was a significant elevation in his career.

noun An imaginary line drawn around the Earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.

• The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
• I heard that the weather is always hot near the equator.
• Dude, let's go chill at the equator and soak up some sun!
• Being at the equator of success, he was able to bask in the warmth of his achievements.

noun the act of inferring or deducing information that is beyond the known or observed data

• The scientist used extrapolation to predict future climate trends based on current data.
• I'm not sure if we can trust that estimate, it seems like a lot of extrapolation.
• I wouldn't bet on that, it's just a bunch of extrapolation.
• His ability to extrapolate from small details and make big decisions is impressive.

noun a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial erosion

• The fiord in Norway is known for its stunning beauty and unique geological formations.
• Let's take a road trip to see the fiord up close!
• That fiord is lit, we should definitely go check it out.
• The deep fiord of emotions within her seemed impossible to navigate.

adjective describing a climate or atmosphere that is moist and damp

• The weather in the rainforest is typically humid due to the high levels of precipitation.
• I hate how humid it gets in the summer, it's so sticky and uncomfortable.
• This humidity is killing me, I feel like I'm swimming through the air.
• The tension in the room was so thick, it felt almost humid with emotion.

noun a person living in the extreme north or the arctic

adjective relating to the extreme north or the arctic

• The hyperborean region is known for its extreme cold temperatures.
• I heard that hyperborean places are freezing all year round.
• Don't go to that hyperborean town unless you want to freeze your butt off.
• Her hyperborean personality made it hard for others to get close to her.

noun a line on a map or chart connecting points having the same temperature at a given time or on average over a given period

• An isotherm is a line on a map connecting points having the same temperature at a given time or on average over a given period.
• The isotherm on the weather map shows where the temperature is the same.
• The isotherm is like the temperature boundary line on the map.
• In this discussion, the isotherm represents the equilibrium point between two opposing forces.

noun a narrow, variable band of very strong, predominantly westerly air currents encircling the globe several miles above the earth

• The jetstream is a narrow, fast-flowing air current high in the Earth's atmosphere.
• Pilots often try to ride the jetstream to save on fuel during long flights.
• I heard we're going to be flying through the jetstream, so we should get there faster.
• Her ideas were like a powerful jetstream, propelling the project forward with great speed.

noun a native or inhabitant of the polar regions

adjective relating to the North or South Pole

• The polar regions are experiencing rapid climate change.
• I heard that the polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate.
• It's so cold outside, it feels like we're in the polar vortex.
• Their opinions on the matter are polar opposites.

noun a thin coating of ice formed when supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a solid surface

verb to cover with or encase in rime

• The delicate rime on the leaves sparkled in the morning sunlight.
• I love how the rime makes everything look magical in the winter.
• Check out the cool rime on that car, it looks awesome!
• The rime of frost on her heart melted away as she forgave him.

noun a region of the Earth surrounding the equator, known for its warm climate and lush vegetation

• The tropics are regions of the Earth that lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• I can't wait to go on vacation to the tropics and soak up the sun on the beach.
• Let's jet off to the tropics and have a wild time in paradise!
• Her love for him was like a warm breeze in the tropics, comforting and all-encompassing.

noun A weather map is a map or chart showing the meteorological conditions over a large area at a particular time.

• The meteorologist used the weather map to predict the upcoming storm.
• I checked the weather map before deciding to go out for a picnic.
• I rely on the weather map to see if it's worth going to the beach.
• She used the weather map as a guide to navigate through the challenges ahead.

adjective relating to the west or the direction toward the west

adverb in or toward the west

• The westerly winds brought a cool breeze to the coastal town.
• I love how the westerly winds make the weather so pleasant here.
• The westerly breeze is totally chill, dude.
• His ideas were moving in a westerly direction, away from the mainstream thoughts.

noun The process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere through evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plants.

• Evapotranspiration is the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.
• Evapotranspiration is like plants sweating to cool themselves down.
• Evapotranspiration is nature's way of staying hydrated.
• Evapotranspiration is like the earth exhaling moisture into the air.

noun the branch of geology that deals with the study of sediment, especially its formation, characteristics, and distribution

• The study of sedimentology involves analyzing the physical and chemical properties of sedimentary rocks.
• Sedimentology is all about studying how rocks are formed from layers of sediment over time.
• Sedimentology is like figuring out the history of rocks by looking at their layers.
• Exploring sedimentology is like reading a history book written in rocks.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'adiabatic gradient' is a noun because it refers to the rate of change of temperature with altitude in an adiabatic process.

• The adiabatic gradient is the rate of change of temperature with altitude in a parcel of air that is not exchanging heat with its surroundings.
• The adiabatic gradient basically tells us how temperature changes as you go higher up in the atmosphere without heat exchange.
• The adiabatic gradient is like the temperature change as you move up in the air without any heat sharing going on.
• Think of the adiabatic gradient as the temperature shift in a bubble of air as it rises up without interacting with its environment.

noun an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the North and South Poles

• The equator, also known as the aequator, is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
• I learned in geography class that the aequator is the line that goes around the middle of the Earth.
• Dude, did you know the aequator is like the ultimate halfway point on the planet?
• In life, finding balance is like standing on the aequator, navigating between extremes.

noun the branch of geography that deals with the study of the Earth's surface from the air, especially through the use of aerial photography and satellite imagery

• Aerogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of air transportation routes.
• I find aerogeography fascinating because it's all about mapping out flight paths.
• Aerogeography sounds like a cool way to learn about airplane routes.
• Exploring aerogeography is like unraveling a complex web of interconnected flight paths.

noun the branch of science that deals with the upper atmosphere, especially with reference to its weather and climate

• Aeronomy is the study of the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere.
• I find aeronomy to be a fascinating field of study.
• Some people think aeronomy is just a bunch of hot air.
• In the world of aeronomy, ideas and theories float like clouds in the sky.

adjective describing something related to both summer and autumn

• The aestivo-autumnal climate transition in this region is marked by a gradual decrease in temperature and increase in rainfall.
• I love the aestivo-autumnal season because it's not too hot or too cold.
• The aestivo-autumnal vibes are perfect for cozy sweater weather and pumpkin spice lattes.
• Her painting captured the essence of the aestivo-autumnal landscape, with warm hues and fading light.