A glossary of common climate change and meteorological terms.
Above Average
In climatology, this refers to the top third of data recorded in the standard 30 year normal period. For example, if above average rainfall is recorded, this indicates that the rainfall lies in the highest third of rainfall recorded in the standard 30 year normal period, i.e it was much wetter than normal.
Anomaly
Departure from normal, difference from the average.
Anticyclone
An area of high pressure around which the winds circulate anti–clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Also called a 'high'.
Autumn
The season March, April, May in the Southern Hemisphere. This season is characterised by decreasing temperatures in most areas of New Zealand.
Barometric Pressure
The pressure exerted by the atmosphere at a given point. It can be thought of as the weight of air in the column above you. Its is normally measured in inches of mercury, millibars, or hectopascals. It is measured with a barometer.
Below Average
In climatology, this refers to the bottom third of data recorded in the standard 30 year normal period. For example, if below average rainfall is recorded, this indicates that the rainfall lies in the lowest third of rainfall recorded in the standard 30 year normal period, i.e. it was much drier than normal.
Climate
The historical record and description of average weather in a region or place. Statistics are normally derived from several decades' worth of data. The word is derived from the Greek word klima, meaning inclination, in reference to the position and angle of sun.
Climate Change
The Earth's climate has exhibited marked "natural" climate changes, with time scales varying from many millions of years down to a few years. The larger climate changes, such as the onset and recession of the Great Ice Ages, has been due to changes in the earth's orbit and the tilt of its axis, which caused systematic variations in the amount and distribution of solar radiation, and changes in circulation and overturning in the oceans and atmosphere. Over periods of a few years, fluctuations in global surface temperatures of a few tenths of a degree are common. These smaller changes are influenced by factors such as volcanic eruptions, and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation pattern.
Climatology
The study of climate.
Cyclone
An area of low pressure around which the winds circulate clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Also called a 'low'.
Dew Point
The temperature to which air must be cooled for condensation to take place.
Drought
A drought is a prolonged period of low rainfall so that soil moisture is insufficient for sustained plant growth. It can take from two weeks to three months with insufficient rainfall before this criterion is met, depending on the time of the year.
El Niño
The cyclical warming of sea surface temperatures off the western coast of South America that can result in significant changes in climate in the tropical Pacific Ocean and elsewhere around the earth. Is strongly related to changes in pressure patterns and wind patterns around the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
If extra amounts of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs) are added into the atmosphere, such as that from human activities, the natural greenhouse effect is increased, with extra warming occurring in the lower atmosphere.
Evapotranspiration
The total amount of water that is transferred from the earth's surface to the atmosphere, mainly through evaporation of liquid water, and transpiration by plants.
Global warming
Global warming refers to an overall increase in the Earth’s surface temperature which over time changes global climate patterns. Global warming due to natural influences has occurred in the past, but the term is more often used to refer to the warming that is occurring and is expected to continue as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Effect
The overall warming of the Earth’s lower atmosphere mainly due to carbon dioxide and water vapour which permit the sun's rays to heat the earth, but then restrict some heat–energy from escaping back into space.
Indian Summer
A period of abnormally warm weather in mid to late autumn.
IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established in 1988 by the WMO and the United Nations, to report on scientific and technical aspects of climate change.
Isobar
The line drawn on a weather map connecting points of equal barometric pressure.
La Niña
The cyclical cooling of sea surface temperatures off the western coast of South America that can result in significant changes in climate in the tropical Pacific Ocean and elsewhere around the earth. Is strongly related to changes in pressure patterns and wind patterns around the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Near Average
In climatology, this refers to the middle third of data recorded in the standard 30 year normal period. For example, if near average rainfall is recorded, this indicates that the rainfall lies in the middle third of rainfall recorded in the standard 30 year normal period, i.e. there was near normal rainfall.
Rain
Liquid precipitation in the form of water droplets. Rain falls from dense, continuous clouds, called 'stratiform' clouds.
Rain Shadow
The region on the lee side (sheltered side) of a mountain range where rainfall is much less than on the windward side. For example, Canterbury lies in the lee of the Southern Alps.
Ridge
An elongated area of high atmospheric pressure that is associated with an anticyclone. Sometimes referred to as a 'ridge of high pressure'.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
The temperature of the water's surface. It is usually measured using buoys, ship data, and satellites.
Shower
Precipitation from individual clouds, often characterised by the sudden beginning or ending. Showers fall from 'lumpy looking', 'cauliflower' clouds, called 'cumuloform' clouds. Showers can consist of liquid water, ice (hail), or snow, or a mixture.
Snow
Frozen precipitation in the form of translucent ice crystals in a complex branched hexagonal form.
Southern Oscillation
A periodic reversal of the pressure pattern (position of highs and lows) across the tropical Pacific Ocean, associated with the El Niño and La Niña climate pattern.
Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)
An index used to monitor the state of the Southern Oscillation. Normally, the SOI is calculated from the standardised monthly mean pressure at Tahiti and Darwin. These two stations give a good approximation of the pressure pattern across the Pacific Ocean on the longer time frames of a month or more.
Spring
The season September, October, November in the Southern Hemisphere. This season is characterised by enhanced westerly winds over New Zealand.
Standard 30-Year Normal Period
At present this refers to the period 1961–1990. In the year 2001, the standard 30-year normal period will roll over to 1971–2000, and so on. A standard 'normal' period is chosen to ensure that calculations of climate averages (the 'normals') are calculated on a consistent period. A 30-year period is considered long enough to calculate a representative average, and to reduce the impact that one-off, very extreme events (i.e. short term climate variability) have on the average. The most recent 30-year period is always used.
Storms
Storms are associated with periods of strong often damaging winds, heavy flood-producing rainfall, thunder and lightning, heavy snowfall or blizzard conditions. They are classified by how strong the winds are or by how heavy the rainfall, lightning or snow are.
Summer
The season December, January, February in the Southern Hemisphere. This season is characterised by an increase in temperatures to the late summer maximum in many places in New Zealand.
Temperature
The temperature of the ambient air at the surface of the earth. This is usually measured in degrees Celsius in New Zealand, and is measured by a thermometer. The thermometer is normally housed in a wooden louvered screen called a Stevenson screen, at a height of approximately 1.3 metres above ground level. This screen allows air to flow through the thermometer enclosure, so that a representative temperature reading is made.
Tornado
A tornado is a violently spinning funnel of air descending from a cloud. It is made visible by the dust that is sucked up and also from the condensation of water droplets in the centre of the funnel.
Tropical Air Mass
Air that originates in the tropics or subtropics. When a tropical air mass lies over the country, it is often very warm and humid.
Tropical Cyclone
An intense storm that originates in the tropics, forming in a single, warm airmass. It has a very low central pressure, an 'eye' (the area with the lowest pressure, and relatively calm winds), and an 'eye–wall'(a ring of very active thunderstorms around the eye). When the winds around the tropical cyclone reach gale force (greater than 34 knots), the storm is named.
Trough
An elongated area of low atmospheric pressure that is associated with a cyclone, or low. Sometimes referred to as a 'trough of low pressure'.
Water Cycle
Also called the hydrological cycle, it is the vertical transport of water in all its states between the earth, atmosphere and the oceans.
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a specific time. It is the short-term variations in the atmosphere, as opposed to the long-term, climatic changes. It is usually referenced to in terms of sunshine, cloudiness, humidity, rainfall, temperature, wind, and visibility.
Wind
Air that flows around pressure systems such as highs and lows, or due to heating and cooling of land and sea (the sea breeze, the land breeze). Measured by its speed, and direction. Winds are called by the direction on the compass they blow from i.e northerly winds blow from the north.
Winter
The season June, July, August in the Southern Hemisphere. This season is the coldest season in most places in New Zealand.
