Chapter 2
Insolation - Solar radiation (energy) received by the Earth

Electromagnetic Radiation - Energy in the form of waves in various wavelengths traveling at the speed of light (eg. Shortwave from Sun to Earth; Longwave from Earth to Atmosphere)

Conduction - The transfer of heat energy from molecule-to-molecule within substances or between touching substances

Convection - The vertical transfer of heat energy by the circulating movement of a liquid or gas (warm rises, cool sinks)

Advection - The horizontal transfer of heat energy as air masses move in response to pressure differences (winds)

Latent Heat - The addition or removal of heat energy from the atmosphere by water changing states between ice, liquid, and gas (Evaporation, Condensation, Melting, Freezing)

Inversion - A temperature inversion is the reversal of the pattern of decreasing temperature with increasing altitude.  This zone of warming air can stop the upward flow of air and trap pollutants.

Continentality - A relative measure of how far a location is from a temperature moderating water body.  The greater the continentality, the greater the temperature range.

Albedo - A measure of the percentage of light reflected by a surface.  High albedo means a high level of reflection.

Greenhouse Effect  - The process where incoming shortwave radiation passes through the atmosphere, but the re-radiated longwave energy from the Earth is trapped by the gasses and heats the atmosphere.

Chapter 3
Air Pressure - The pressing force produced by the motion, size, and number of gas molecules.

Wind - The horizontal movement of air relative to the Earth's surface as air moves from zones of high pressure to those of low pressure

Coriolis Force - The apparent deflection of objects moving in relationship to the earth due to difference in surface rotation speed at different Latitudes.

Isobar - A line that connects all the points that have an equal pressure.

Equatorial Trough - The low pressure area which circles the globe in the tropics, which is a result of intense convection (aka, Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ).

Jet Stream - High-speed upper level winds that flow strongly west to east over the upper midlatitudes.

Cyclone - The spiral pattern of winds flowing into a low pressure cell (convergent winds).

Anticyclone - The spiral pattern of winds flowing out of a high pressure cell (divergent winds).

Monsoon - The strong winds that flow between land and sea in response to intense heating and cooling of the landmasses.  Winter - dry, off-shore flow.  Summer - very wet, on-shore flow.

El Niño - The weakening of Equatorial Pacific Tradewinds and the resulting shift of ocean current patterns (flow east rather than west) which leads to major changes in global weather patterns.  Aka, ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation).

Sea Breeze (On-Shore)  - Wind from sea to land (often in the afternoon)

Land Breeze (Off-Shore) - Wind from land to sea (often in early morning)

Foehn (Föhn) Winds - Down-slope warming winds (Chinook, Santa Anas, Föhn)

Gyres - Major circular current patterns in the oceans.  Gyres flow clockwise in northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere

Chapter 4
Water Vapor - Water in the form of an odorless, tasteless, invisible atmospheric gas

Relative Humidity - The ratio (%) of water in the air to the amount of water that air could hold at the current temperature.

Dew Point - The temperature at which a given mass of air becomes saturated (reaches capacity)

Condensation -  Conversion of water vapor to water droplets.

Condensation Nuclei - The very small particles (sea salt, soot, dust) around which water vapor condenses.

Fog - A low cloud in contact with the Earth's surface.

Precipitation - Condensed or frozen water that returns to the Earth (as rain, snow, drizzle, sleet, or hail).

Hail - Ice "balls" created in the updrafts and downdrafts of a thunderstorm.

Chapter 5/6
Weather - The atmospheric conditions at any given time in a given place (Meteorology - Study of weather).

Climate - The long-term weather conditions of a place including common deviations from the norm. (Climatology - Study of climate)

Orographic Precipitation - Precipitation that occurs as air is forced up over a mountain.  On the windward side cooling leads to condensation.  Often, the leeward side is drier (rain shadow).

Air Mass - A large body of air that gets its temperature and moisture characteristics from a source area with consistent conditions (temp/humid)

Warm Front - The advance of warm air into a region of cool air. Warm air moves over the cool air creating a broad zone of clouds and light rain.

Cold Front - The advance of cold air into a region of warm air. Cold air quickly pushes the warm air up, creating a narrow band of intense rainfall.

Occluded Front - Where a cold front has over taken a warm front. Cold air catches cool air at the surface and all warm air is above.  Can have high clouds and some rain.

Stationary Front - Where warm air and cold air meet, but are not overtaking one another.

Tornado - A funnel created by violently spinning winds created by an extremely low pressure storm.

Convectional Storm - Storms that are a result of warmed air rising rapidly and condensing (Thunderstorms)

Easterly Wave -  - A low pressure trough that can bring clouds and rain from east to west in the subtropics

Hurricane - Major subtropical cyclonic storm in which winds exceed speeds of 74mph. (tropical disturbance to tropical depression to tropical storm to hurricane, class 1-5)

Microclimate - The unique climatic characteristics of a location (may vary from the general climate type).