Science / Weather Glossary

Cloud Bank: A well-defined cloud mass that can be observed at a distance. It covers the horizon, but is not directly overhead.

Cloudburst: A sudden, heavy rainfall of a showery nature.

Coalescence: The merging of two water drops into a single larger drop.

Cold: A condition marked by low or decidedly subnormal temperature. The lack of heat.

Cold Advection: The horizontal movement of colder air into a location. Contrast with warm advection.

Cold Air Funnel: Funnel clouds, usually short-lived, that develop from relatively small showers or thunderstorms when the air aloft is very in cold. Cold air funnels may touch down briefly, but in general ar . . . View Full Definition

Cold Core Thunderstorms: Thunderstorms formed primarily due to steep lapse rates, especially when very cold air aloft overlies warmer surface air.

Cold Front: The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass that is under running and displacing the warmer air in its path. Generally, with the passage of a cold front, the temperature and humidity decr . . . View Full Definition

Cold High: A high pressure system that has its coldest temperatures at or near the center of circulation, and horizontally, is thermally barotropic. It is shallow in nature, as circulation decreases wi . . . View Full Definition

Cold Low: A low pressure system that has its coldest temperatures at or near the center of circulation, and is thermally barotropic with respect to a horizontal plane. Also known as a cold core low. A . . . View Full Definition

Cold Wave: A rapid fall in temperature within twenty-four hours to temperatures requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities. National Weather . . . View Full Definition

Collada: A strong, steady wind blowing from the north or northwest in the upper part of the Gulf of California and from the northeast in the lower part.

Colorado Low: A low pressure disturbance that forms in the lee of the Rocky Mountains, usually in southeastern Colorado.

Comma Cloud: A feature seen on satellite images with a distinctive comma-shape. This is indicative of a synoptic cloud pattern associated with large, well-developed low pressure systems.

Condensation: The process by which water vapor undergoes a change in state from a gas to a liquid. It is the opposite physical process of evaporation.

Condensation Funnel: A funnel-shaped cloud consisting of condensed water drops that has possible rotation.

Condensation Nuclei: A particle upon which condensation of water vapor occurs. It may be either in a solid or liquid state.

Conditional Instability: Stable unsaturated air that will result in instability in the event or on the condition that the air becomes saturated. If the air is saturated, it is considered unstable; if air is unsatura . . . View Full Definition

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