[ 2 1 s t c e n t u r y s k i l l s l i b r a r y ]
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GLOSSARY
cumulonimbus clouds (kyoo-myuh-loh-NIM-buhs KLOWDS)
large, dark clouds that can
produce thunderstorms and severe weather
cumulus clouds (KYOO-myuh-luhs KLOWDS)
bright, puffy clouds that can form
thunderheads
debris (DUH-bree)
ruins or pieces of broken things
Doppler radar (DOP-ler RAY-dahr)
a radar system used to predict weather
frequency (FREE-kwuhn-see)
the number of waves that pass a certain point in a second
fronts (FRUHNTS)
areas where warm and cold air masses meet
mesocyclone (mez-oh-SAHY-klohn)
a swirling column of air inside a thunderhead
meteorologist (MEE-tee-or-ah-low-jist)
a person who predicts and reports on the weather
supercell (SOO-per-sel)
a large and violent thunderstorm
tornadic waterspouts (tor-NAH-dik WAH-tur-spowts)
tornadoes that form over water
tornado (tor-NAY-doh)
a powerful rotating column of air that extends from a
thunderstorm to the ground
tornado warnings (tor-NAY-doh WORN-ingz)
weather alerts announced when tornadoes
are detected
tornado watch (tor-NAY-doh WOCH)
a weather alert announced when a storm might
produce tornadoes
INDEX
air masses, 11, 12, 17–18
cumulonimbus clouds, 10,
24
cumulus clouds, 10
Doppler radar, 21, 23
Enhanced Fujita Scale,
12–13, 14
fronts, 11, 18
Joplin, Missouri, 4–9, 13, 19
mesocyclones, 11–12, 24
meteorologists, 12, 20–25
squall line, 18
supercell storms, 4, 6, 11, 17,
18, 25, 29
tornadic waterspouts, 12, 15
Tornado Alley, 16–18, 19, 25
tornado formation, 4, 5, 9,
10–13, 15, 24–25, 29
tornado shelters, 5, 19, 26,
27, 28
tornado warnings, 4, 5, 19,
20, 25, 26, 28, 29
