The leading edge of a warmer mass of air, replacing a cooler mass of air.
The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see with our eyes; it includes all the colors of the rainbow.
A measure of the rotation of fluid particles in a flow field.
The datum against which land elevation and sea depth are measured, with mean sea level being the average of high and low tides.
The propulsive force developed by a rocket motor during the rocket's powered ascent.
The comparatively slow torquing of the orbital planes of all satellites with respect to the Earth's axis, due to the bulge of the Earth at the equator which distorts the Earth's gravitational field.
Local coastal wind that blows from the ocean to land, usually occurring during the day due to heating differences of land and sea causing pressure differences.
A powerful and luminous explosion that occurs at the end of a star's life cycle, marking the death of a star and can result in a dramatic increase in brightness.
Polestar, also spelled pole star, is the brightest star that appears nearest to either celestial pole at any particular time.
In quantum mechanics, a particle that can never be directly detected, but whose existence does have measurable effects.
The change in energy flux in the atmosphere due to changes in factors like greenhouse gas concentrations.
An artificial body placed in orbit around the Earth or another planet to collect information or for communication.
A way energy moves from one place to another; waves can transfer energy without moving materials, such as X-rays.
The distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.
The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind.
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
A type of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, emitted by the sun and can cause sunburn.
The beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere; the time/day that the sun crosses the equatorial plane going from south to north.
An instrument used to indicate wind direction.
Radiation with lots of energy made by very hot gases, stars, neutron stars, and gas around black holes; they can pass through solid materials.
A force acting on a rotating body in space, caused by the anisotropic emission of thermal photons.
A small, main-sequence star, like our Sun, that is in the process of converting hydrogen into helium.
The area observed by a satellite as it orbits the Earth.
The principle formulated by Heisenberg that one can never be exactly sure of both the position and the velocity of a particle.
A very energetic and distant active galactic nucleus, with a supermassive black hole at its center, observed across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
A small, very dense star that is typically the size of a planet.
An atmospheric circulation pattern in which the east-west component of the wind is dominant.
The conditions in space that can affect Earth, satellites, and space travel, primarily resulting from solar wind and solar storms.
A rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, forming a twisting, spinning funnel of low pressure air.
A heavy, colorless, and odorless noble gas used in certain types of lighting and in ion propulsion systems.
The process by which electromagnetic radiation interacts with and is redirected by the molecules of the atmosphere, ocean, or land surface.
How we describe objects that have a million times (or more!) mass than our sun.
A vehicle used for traveling in space.
An orbit with an orbital inclination of near 90 degrees where the satellite ground track will cross both polar regions once during each orbit.
A substance used as a reagent in a rocket engine to provide thrust.
A natural motion of the air, especially a noticeable current of air moving in the atmosphere parallel to the Earth's surface.
A sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun’s surface, releasing gases, radiation waves, and magnetic storms.
A stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the sun, constituting a constant stream of particles and energy emitted by the sun.
A storm with thunder and lightning and typically heavy rain or hail, resulting from warm humid air rising in an unstable environment.
An unmanned exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit information about its environment.
A mountain or hill that has an opening where lava, rock fragments, or gas erupt from deep inside a planet or moon.
A conceptual model of the air flow in the tropics in the lower atmosphere.
The perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the body on exposed skin due to the flow of air.
A faint, diffuse, and roughly triangular white glow seen in the night sky, caused by sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust.
A piece of material that can capture sunlight and turn it into electricity.
A technique used to analyze the light spectrum emitted or absorbed by substances, revealing their composition.
A highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles.
A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind.
The technology of acquiring data and information about an object or phenomena by a device that is not in physical contact with it.
The point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer.
A system that optically scans its detector(s) across a scene and records or stores the data in a two-dimensional format to form an image.
A sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide.
A quantum (plural: quanta) is the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction.
A difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere.
The branch of science that deals with rockets and rocket propulsion.
Small fin or wing-like extensions attached to the ends of the wings of an aircraft.
