Extreme Weather Events
What is the term for a rapidly rotating column of air, extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of causing significant damage?
What is a tornado?
What term refers to the measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the air and is commonly associated with hot or cold weather?
What is temperature?
What is the natural light display in the Earth's sky caused by charged particles colliding with atoms in the atmosphere, producing colorful displays near the magnetic poles?
What is the aurora (aurora borealis or aurora australis)?
What handheld instrument is commonly used to measure atmospheric pressure and is crucial for weather forecasting?
What is a barometer?
What is the term for the event where the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking part or all of the Sun's light from reaching Earth?
What is a solar eclipse?
In meteorology, what is the name given to a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds, low visibility, and blowing snow?
What is a blizzard
In meteorology, what is the name for a line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure?
What is an isobar?
Which meteorological phenomenon is characterized by the appearance of a ring of light around the sun or moon caused by the reflection, refraction, and dispersion of sunlight in ice crystals?
What is a halo?
In meteorology, what device measures wind speed and is often seen on weather stations and airports?
What is an anemometer?
What is the name of the phenomenon where a small, rocky object from space enters the Earth's atmosphere, producing a streak of light as it burns up due to friction?
What is a meteor or meteoroid?
Which tropical cyclone category is characterized by sustained winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour, capable of causing extensive damage to trees and power lines?
What is a Category 1 hurricane?
What meteorological term describes the process by which water vapor changes into liquid water, typically forming clouds or dew?
What is condensation?
What is the term for the periodic increase in the brightness of a star caused by the expansion and contraction of its outer layers, often resulting in variations in luminosity?
What is stellar pulsation or stellar variability?
What is the name of the instrument used to measure relative humidity, commonly found in weather stations and used in climate research?
What is a hygrometer?
What is the term for the explosive release of energy from the Sun, often resulting in the ejection of charged particles and the stunning displays of the Northern and Southern Lights?
What is a solar flare?
What is the Fujita scale used to measure in tornadoes, indicating the intensity of the tornado based on the damage it causes?
What is wind speed and damage?
What is the term for the boundary between two air masses with different temperatures and humidity levels, often leading to changes in weather conditions?
What is a front?
In astronomy, what is the name given to the streaks of light produced when small particles from space enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up due to friction with the air?
What are meteor showers?
In satellite meteorology, what technology allows scientists to monitor and track the development of storms and weather patterns from space?
What is satellite imagery?
In astrophysics, what is the name given to a massive celestial object with gravitational forces so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it?
What is a black hole?
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the United States, causing widespread devastation. Which category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale did Katrina reach at its peak intensity?
What is Category 5?
In meteorology, what term is used to describe the condition where a layer of warmer air traps cooler air near the Earth's surface, preventing vertical movement and often leading to poor air quality?
What is a temperature inversion?
Which celestial event occurs when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, causing the Earth's shadow to fall on the moon's surface, resulting in a reddish tint during a total lunar eclipse?
What is a blood moon (or a total lunar eclipse)?
What advanced instrument is used to measure the concentration of different gases in the Earth's atmosphere, providing valuable data for climate research and environmental monitoring?
What is a spectrometer?
In astronomy, what term describes the apparent shift in the position of a nearby star against the background of more distant stars, caused by the Earth's orbit around the Sun?
What is stellar parallax?