Weather and Seasons
Summer Solstice (Midsummer)
The Summer Solstice, or "Midsummer," derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. This is the time when the Sun is at its highes...
Heat Lightning
Heat Lightning is actually faint flashes of lightning reflecting outward from distant thunderstorms. These flashes usually do not produce thunder as the storm is sometimes too far away to be heard. The term heat lightning got its name because it often ...
Snow Gauge
A snow gauge is an instrument used in meteorology to gather and measure the amount of solid precipitation (as opposed to liquid precipitation that is measured by a rain gauge) over a period of time. A snow gauge has two parts: the copper catchment cont...
Water Cycle
The water cycle (or hydrologic cycle) describes the continuous movement of water above, below, and on the planet. Since the water cycle is in fact a "cycle", there is no beginning or end. Water exists in three states: liquid, vapor, and ice. Although t...
Raining Animals
Raining animals is a rare meteorological phenomenon, although there have been occurrences reported from many countries throughout history. It is believed that this phenomenon occurs at least occasionally when strong winds that are traveling over water ...
Meltwater
Meltwater is water that is released from melting snow or ice. This includes meltwater from glacial ice and ice shelves over oceans. Meltwater is often produced during volcanic eruptions, and can cause dangerous lahars (landslides of wet volcanic debris...
Arctic Haze
Arctic haze is a phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere at high latitudes in the Arctic due to air pollution. What distinguishes Arctic haze from haze found elsewhere, is the ability of its chemical ingredients to endure in the atmosphere for a longe...
Haze
Haze is a type of atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and dry particles in the air obscure the sky's clarity. Haze is created through various activities including farming, traffic pollution,and even wildfires. The World Meteorological Organization...
Mist
Mist is a phenomenon that consists of small droplets of water suspended in air. Mist occurs as part of a natural weather event or from volcanic activity. Mist is most common in cold air above warm water. Mist also occurs when air is exhaled in cold tem...
Condensation
Condensation is the change of the physical state of matter from a gaseous form into liquid form. When the transition of matter happens from gaseous to solid directly, it is known as deposition. Condensation occurs when a vapor is cooled or compressed t...
White Frost
White frost is a type of solid ice that forms directly from water vapor found in the air. White frost forms when the humidity is above 90% and the temperature is below 18 degrees Fahrenheit. White frost grows against the wind, since the facing winds ha...
Soft Rime
Soft rime is a type of milky white ice that forms when water droplets in light freezing fog freeze to the outer surfaces of objects. This formation usually occurs with light winds or in calm conditions. The rime forms to the windward (side facing the w...
Hard Rime
Hard rime is a type of white ice that forms when water droplets found in fog freeze to the outer surfaces of objects. Hard rime is most often found on trees atop mountains and high ridges in winter, when low clouds cause freezing fog. This fog freezes ...
Rain
Rain is a type of liquid precipitation. It is defined as condensation of atmospheric water vapor that forms into drops that become heavy enough to fall, and often making it to the surface. Rain is the primary source of most of the fresh water in the wo...
Clear Ice
Clear Ice refers to a solid precipitation that forms when air temperature is between 32 degrees and 27 degrees Fahrenheit and there is a presence of super-cooled, large drops of water (from freezing fog). A rapid build up and slow dispersing of latent ...
Autumnal Equinox
Autumnal Equinox -- In astronomy, is the equinox at the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere: the moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. The equinox occurs around September 22-24, varying slightly e...