Storm-relative velocity - A radar view which allows a meteorologist to view wind speeds within a thunderstorm. The term storm-relative means that the storm's overall motion is subtracted from the data to give a clearer picture of what the winds are doing within the storm. This display is helpful trying to diagnose if the storm itself is rotating. It can also be used when trying to determine if a tornado is present within the storm.

Supercell Thunderstorm - A relatively long-lived, large and intense storm cell characterized by exceptionally strong updrafts that can exceed 100 mph. Supercell thunderstorms have updrafts that rotate, which gives them the ability to remain intact for long periods of time. Most of the strong to violent tornadoes that develop are associated with supercells.

Lenticular clouds - The scientific name is altocumulus standing lenticular clouds. These lens shaped clouds are the most common cloud type to be mistaken for UFO's. They are most common near mountain ranges, as they form when strong winds blow up and over the top of a mountain range. Even though the winds within these clouds are moving very quickly, the cloud formation itself remains stationary. The presence of a lenticular cloud signifies an area of severe turbulence in the atmosphere, as pilots avoid them when possible.

Insolation - Insolation is the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth and the atmosphere. The amount of insolation at a specific location varies due to the length of day and the angle of the sun. During the winter in the northern hemisphere, the shorter days compiled with the lower angle of the sun results in much lower insolation compared to what is received during the summer months.

El Nino - An anomalous warming of ocean waters in the east central equatorial Pacific. El Nino events occur every two to seven years and have local as well as global impacts. Nutrient deficient waters cripple the fishing industry off the coast of western South America during El Ninos, while global weather patterns can be significantly altered due to the presence of an El Nino.

Lenticular clouds - The scientific name is altocumulus standing lenticular clouds. These lens shaped clouds are the most common cloud type to be mistaken for UFO's. They are most common near mountain ranges, as they form when strong winds blow up and over the top of a mountain range. Even though the winds within these clouds are moving very quickly, the cloud formation itself remains stationary. The presence of a lenticular cloud signifies an area of severe turbulence in the atmosphere, as pilots avoid them when possible.

Millibar - A millibar is a measure of atmospheric pressure taken by a barometer. The standard pressure measured at the surface is 1,013 millibars. Other units that are used for pressure measurements are inches of mercury and pascals. The lowest pressure readings that have occurred at the surface have been measured underneath intense hurricanes.