Severe Weather Vocabulary Flashcard

Front

What is the strongest part of a hurricane where the heaviest precipitation and strongest winds are found?

Back

eyewall

Front

What is a violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground that can be extremely damaging?

Back

Tornado

Front

What is the channel of partially charged air that represents the breakdown in charges between positive and negative regions?

Back

stepped leader

Front

What is an extremely powerful, self-sustaining thunderstorm characterized by intense, rotating updrafts?

Back

Supercell

Front

What is a large, low-pressure, rotating tropical storm that gets its energy from warm ocean water?

Back

Tropical cyclone

Front

What term describes a sudden and powerful downdraft of air that can cause damage?

Back

Downburst

Front

What is the term for a rise in sea level caused by a storm, often associated with hurricanes?

Back

Storm surge

Front

What is the process called when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water, releasing heat?

Back

Latent heat

Front

What is the term for a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall?

Back

Drought

Front

What is the phenomenon called when a storm's winds rotate around a central point?

Back

Cyclone