Weather and Atmospheric Terms

Front

Isoline

Back

A map line that connects points of equal or very similar values.

Front

Isobar

Back

A line drawn to connect points of equal atmospheric pressure.

Front

Isotherm

Back

Line drawn on a weather map that connects points having equal temperature.

Front

Isomap

Back

Any map that shows different areas with the same value.

Front

Gradient

Back

A rate of inclination; a slope/ change in a variable over a certain distance.

Front

Interval

Back

The distance between two isolines.

Front

Land breeze

Back

Movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces up warmer air over the sea.

Front

Sea breeze

Back

Movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over the land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise.

Front

High pressure

Back

A mass of sinking cool air that usually brings fair weather.

Front

Low pressure

Back

A mass of rising warm air that usually brings wet, stormy weather.