weather phenomena
This rapidly rotating column of air extends from a thunderstorm to the ground and can cause significant damage.
What is a tornado?
Every year, the Texas Longhorns face this team in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Who is OU?
Feeling sick or a little off? You might say you’re this.
What is under the weather?
This layer of Earth’s atmosphere, closest to the surface, is where almost all weather occurs.
What is the troposphere?
The longest continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide comes from measurements taken at this observatory in Hawaii.
What is Mauna Loa Observatory?
This effect causes cities to be warmer than surrounding rural areas due to concrete, asphalt, and buildings.
What is the urban heat island effect?
Who is Renee Zellweger?
Even in a bad situation, there is something positive to be found.
What is every cloud has a silver lining?
The boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere is called this.
What is the tropopause?
When warming melts ice, Earth reflects less sunlight, causing further warming. What type of feedback loop is this?
What is a positive feedback loop?
This type of cloud is tall, puffy, and commonly produces thunderstorms.
What is a cumulonimbus cloud?
The University of Texas officially opened its Climate Systems Science major in this year.
What is 2024?
If something is very unlikely to happen, it’s said to be as rare as this.
What is a blue moon?
Air moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure, creating this common atmospheric phenomenon.
What is wind?
These are the three most important greenhouse gases contributing to human-caused climate change.
What are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O)?
This process occurs when ice or snow changes directly into water vapor without becoming liquid first.
What is sublimation?
Graduates from the College of Liberal Arts wear this color stole at graduation.
What is white?
Someone who is only around during good times and disappears when things get tough.
What is a fair-weather friend?
The Coriolis effect is caused by this property of Earth.
What is Earth’s rotation?
These long-term variations in Earth’s orbit and tilt affect the amount of solar energy reaching the planet, contributing to natural ice ages.
What are Milankovitch cycles?
This weather phenomenon occurs when precipitation evaporates before reaching the ground, often appearing as streaks hanging from clouds.
What is virga?
There have been this many live Texas Longhorn mascots named Bevo since the tradition began in 1916.
What is 15?
Means to face something head-on without hesitation, like walking into bad weather.
What is weather the storm?
This term describes how air temperature generally changes as you go higher in the atmosphere.
What is the lapse rate?
This is the current approximate atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide in parts per million (ppm).
What is about 420 ppm?